Miami Beach CSI Tech Charged With Mishandling Evidence

MIAMI BEACH, FL — A veteran CSI technician with the Miami Beach Police Department has been formally charged of mishandling evidence in nine criminal cases. Thirteen-year-employee, Jason Bruder, was relieved of duty with pay on July 15. The misdemeanor criminal charges were announced Friday.

“This a sad day for the Miami Beach Police Departmentd," explained Miami Beach Police Chief Daniel Oates. This behavior was a betrayal of trust. I am confident that our joint investigation with the Miami Dade State Attorney’s Office has concluded appropriately."

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Oates said that Bruder has remained on paid leave.

"Now that the criminal case has concluded, we will be taking prompt administrative action," the chief explained.

Bruder’s alleged mishandling of evidence resulted in certain items being stored in a temporary storage locker under his exclusive control — in some cases for many months — rather than being officially checked into the department's evidence storage facility as required, according to the department's Ernesto Rodriguez.

Oates said that officials have also been reviewing the department's evidence procedures following Bruder's removal.

“We take our responsibility to handle evidence very seriously. We discovered this problem and are immediately addressing it," Oates said previously.

According to Rodriguez, the department's internal affairs unit has also been reviewing all evidence that was handled by Bruder for the past several years.

"There is no indication at this time that any evidence is missing and no indication that money or narcotics were involved," Rodriguez said when the investigation was initially announced.

The department supplied the temporary storage locker which was the subject of the investigation. But the locker was intended to hold evidence only for a short time, according to Rodriguez.

Police department officials worked closely with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office in determing whether to bring charges against Bruder.

"The criminal investigation between the Miami Dade State Attorney’s Office and the Miami Beach Police Department has concluded and resulted in nine criminal misdemeanor charges of falsifying public records," according to Rodriguez.

Photo by Paul Scicchitano