Rutherford County Narcotics Detective Under Investigation

MURFREESBORO, TN -- A top narcotics detective for the Rutherford County Sheriff's Department is under investigation by the TBI.

Lt. Jason Mathis, a 20-year-department veteran who leads the narcotics unit for the sheriff's office, is on leave while the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation looks into allegations of official misconduct. NewsChannel 5 reports Mathis is accused of taking a zero-turn-radius lawn mower and trailer seized during a drug bust. Because of the nature of the allegations, the state comptroller could also conduct an audit, the station reports.

Attorney Jim Todd told the station that if Mathis faces criminal charges, it could put any pending drug prosecutions in Rutherford County in jeopardy.

"So, if he takes the stuff home that's the same as stealing or theft and that will not only destroy his credibility, but destroy the credibility of the department as well, making it hard to prosecute cases in the pipeline," Todd said.

Mathis, who has been decommissioned during the investigation, did not respond to a request for comment.

See NewsChannel 5's full report.

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Image via Tennessee Bureau of Investigation