Former Upper Darby Cop Arrested
By David Madden
MEDIA, Pa., (CBS) -- A former Upper Darby police officer is facing charges of theft and evidence tampering.
Forty-one-year-old Brad Ross of Aldan ended his 17 year law enforcement career in March, one month after investigators found problems in the police evidence room where he worked. A probe found that items from 203 criminal cases dating back up to three years was gone.
At the same time, Ross entered a drug treatment program. Delaware County DA Jack Whelan says Ross could have sought treatment after a 2012 car accident which left him in pain. But didn't.
"He decided he was going to turn to criminal activity." Whelan told reporters. "which was involving the stealing of the evidence, which was cash and cards and drugs instead of getting the help he needed."
Among the items allegedly stolen were over 3,700 pills and more than $14,000 in cash.
As a result, Whelan has dismissed three criminal drug cases in which Ross, who doubled as a detective, was involved. But the rest remain in force. "Most of the other cases involving Brad Ross involved other officers that can testify as to the facts and circumstances of the criminal matter," Whelan said. "And we also have other evidence that he didn't tamper with."
Investigators believe Ross's wife was helping her husband, but there's not hard proof at this time to charge her.
Ross is facing hundreds of criminal counts, most for theft and evidence tampering. He was arraigned before a District Justice in Newtown Square and freed on $50,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for next week.