Former BLB officer arrested for theft of property

BAYOU LA BATRE, Ala. (WALA) - A former Bayou La Batre police officer found himself on the wrong side of the jailhouse bars Friday. A seven month long investigation by the Alabama Bureau of Investigations into missing drug money led to the arrest.

Former Bayou La Batre police officer Jason Edwards was booked into Metro jail Friday morning charged with theft of property. FOX10 tried to catch up with Edwards at his home after his release, but no one answered the door.

Last March, an unidentified Bayou La Batre police officer was at the center of an ABI investigation after confiscated drug money came up missing. Bayou La Batre Public Safety Director Mitchell Stuckey could not confirm if that officer was Edwards.

"Sgt. Edwards was the person who handled our evidence," said Stuckey.

Edwards resigned from the force over the summer during the investigation.

"I can't confirm if it was that theft, but I know back in the Spring an internal affairs investigation was launched by the Bayou La Batre Police Department," said Stuckey. "It was about missing drug money."

Edwards arrest comes a day after Bayou La Batre Police Chief John Joyner announced he had plans to retire. Joyner said his retirement takes effect November 1. He is on vacation right now.

Former Chief Joyner was the one who discovered the missing money. He turned over the investigation to Bayou La Batre Mayor Stan Wright.

Mayor Wright contacted the Alabama Bureau of Investigation to look into things. When FOX10 news talked to the Mayor about the investigation, he would not say how much money was missing.

"More than pocket change. I don't care if it is one penny. I want every penny accounted for, and I am not going to tolerate this," he said.

Public Safety Director Mitchell Stuckey will handle the day-to-day operations of the police department until a new chief is appointed.