Marijuana missing from the Greenwood Police Department was to have served as evidence in a couple of pending drug cases.
District Attorney Joyce Chiles said her office is considering moving forward with those cases without the evidence. "We have not decided yet."
The jury might have a problem not having the evidence there, she said, but her office can present the case just the same.
Greenwood Mayor Harry Smith acknowledged Thursday in a written statement that he was notified Monday shortly after 5 p.m. that the evidence marijuana was missing.
An in-house investigation has begun under the direction of Greenwood Police Chief Henry Harris. The Mississippi Narcotics Bureau and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation have been notified and asked to help, Smith said.
One of the cases affected by the missing evidence is that of Lorenzo Tarver. The 36-year-old was indicted last March on charges of possession of marijuana and a felon in possession of a gun.
Tarver was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison after pleading guilty to a federal drug charge in 1999. A portion of that sentence was for Tarver to serve five years supervised release.
Federal Bureau of Prison records show Tarver was released Nov. 6, 2002.
Police officials won't say what other cases are affected by the missing evidence. The mayor has declined to talk about it for fear of hurting the investigation.
The missing marijuana is the second time this year that items have disappeared from the Greenwood Police Department.
An undetermined number of weapons were reported missing from the police department in early January. Smith and police officials have also declined to disclose the type of weapons stolen.
An investigation by state and federal officials into the missing guns continues. Smith said he met last week with John Lavoie, a retired FBI agent with 28 years of experience. The city has employed Lavoie to review operating and security procedures in the police department.
"This was done with the concurrence of Chief Harris and the city council," Smith said.
Smith provided for Lavoie's pay out of the executive department's professional services fund, which doesn't require a vote of the city council.
The mayor said he has kept the council apprised of events.
Last week, the council met in closed session to discuss criminal matters. At that point, said council President David Jordan, the mayor told council members about the missing marijuana.
