1 suspect involved in missing money from McKeesport evidence room, DA says

One unnamed suspect has been targeted in the investigation of missing money from the McKeesport Police Department evidence room, according to Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr.

“It doesn’t matter what policies or protocols or procedues you have,” he said. “A lot of this is based on trust. And there was a person in a position who was trusted, and unfortunately, they violated that trust.”

As of now, the one suspect hasn’t been charged, according to Zappala, so he did not disclose their name.

“Right now, my concern is I want to know the scope of cases which have been impacted by any unlawful activity in connection with the evidence room,” he said. “It’s very early on, but so far, we can’t find any cases that have been compromised.”

However, Zappala said there is missing money, and there is the potential for missing drugs as well.

He couldn’t confirm how much money is missing, but officials believe the missing money amounts to several thousand dollars, said Jennifer Vertullo, a spokeswoman for McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko.

Indications that something unusual was occurring in the evidence room surfaced last month when members of the Allegheny County Police Department undertook a review of the evidence room inside McKeesport’s public safety building.

Zappala said Cherepko made a referral that said he felt protocols for the evidence room “had been compromised.”

Police evidence rooms are used to store seized property, stolen merchandise and items from crime scenes that can include drugs, weapons and cash, which are safeguarded for use in court.