A Louisiana police chief who was accused of stealing cash from seized money announced his own arrest Thursday, saying he will "let the criminal justice system work this issue out."
Mitch Bratton, the police chief for the Grayson Police Department in Louisiana, released the statement concerning his arrest in a Facebook post Thursday:
"A few weeks back, I contacted an outside agency to come look into some concerns that I had with a town employee. Today, while cooperating with the State Police Investigators, they charged me with Obstruction of Justice and Malfeasance in Office," Bratton wrote.
"I won't debate the validity of the charge. I wanted to be in full disclosure. This does not affect me being the chief of police and I intend to be as accessible as I always have while I let the criminal justice system work this issue out. I appreciate the concern from people that have already reached out, it means a lot!" Bratton stated.
Bratton has received nearly 2,000 comments of support from people saying they are praying from him and offering their support. One commenter wrote: "Mitch you are a good man. I've never heard anyone speak one bad word about you. I am behind you."
On Thursday, Bratton was taken into custody by the Louisiana State Police after it alleged he "intentionally concealed" over $3,600 that he seized as a part of two separate cases and could not be accounted for. The LSP released a statement on the arrest and investigation, which is still ongoing, in a Facebook post:
"Over the last month, Louisiana State Police Criminal Investigations Division [CID] initiated an investigation into the Grayson Police Department following a complaint of missing seized currency. As a result of the investigation, LSP placed [Bratton] under arrest on charges of Obstruction of Justice and Malfeasance in Office," the LSP stated.
"During the course of the investigation, LSP CID determined Bratton seized $2,500 and $1,150 on two separate cases. The seized currency could not be accounted for and was never logged as evidence. LSP investigators determined Bratton intentionally concealed the missing currency. Bratton was charged with two counts of Obstruction of Justice and one count of Malfeasance in Office and booked into the Caldwell Parish Jail," the LSP stated. He posted bond and was released shortly thereafter.
When Newsweek reached out to Bratton, he said he could not comment on pending matters. An LSP spokesperson likewise told Newsweek that the statement is the only information it is releasing at this time as the investigation is still ongoing.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
");jQuery(this).remove()}) jQuery('.start-slider').owlCarousel({loop:!1,margin:10,nav:!0,items:1}).on('changed.owl.carousel',function(event){var currentItem=event.item.index;var totalItems=event.item.count;if(currentItem===0){jQuery('.owl-prev').addClass('disabled')}else{jQuery('.owl-prev').removeClass('disabled')} if(currentItem===totalItems-1){jQuery('.owl-next').addClass('disabled')}else{jQuery('.owl-next').removeClass('disabled')}})}})})ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7HWrK6enZtjsLC5jqWmrqGjnq6vrYyppqWhk5p6pLTInp1mmZOYwrSxw2aqrZ2Robavs4yapaenpaOwpr%2BMoaCsZZGnv6a%2F02auoqScYrmmwIyjrKysmZiybr%2FYrKuepV2svLO3jK2foqtdZoJxhY9ybA%3D%3D