TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Evidence Room Items Found At St. Pete Police Workers' Home

ADVERTISEMENT

By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 7, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Vice and narcotics detectives made an interesting find in April when they raided the home of a suspected drug dealer who lived with his parents, both of whom worked at the St. Petersburg Police Department, according to internal affairs documents released today.

They found tools, cell phones and pocketknives that had been taken from the property and evidence room at the police department.

After a monthslong investigation, the man's mother – Christine Adams, a clerk in the property and evidence unit – was fired today , according to internal affairs memorandums released this afternoon

The man's father, Steven Adams Sr., who works in the equipment room at the department, told authorities he took things from the property and evidence room. He was suspended without pay for 20 days, the memorandums state.

The couple's son – Steve Adams Jr., 20, -- was arrested April 25 after the raid at the home in the 1990 block of 38th Avenue North. Adams Jr. was charged with possession of marijuana and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to computerized court records.

Among the things Adams Sr. told authorities he took: cans of pepper spray, according to internal affairs documents.

Christine Adams said people were accustomed to taking items that no longer were of any use to anyone and that a former supervisor had said it was OK, the documents state.

The former supervisor said that wasn't the case, the documents state.

Officer Charles Tatem, a property and evidence division supervisor, said he spotted some golf club covers with the Florida State University mascot on them and decided to give them to Police Chief Chuck Harmon, an FSU alumnus. They were left on a chair in Harmon's office, Tatem told investigators.

One major reason Christine Adams was fired was that she accused other employees of taking things, and that could not be substantiated, documents state.

Her husband, on the other hand, took full responsibility for what he had done, the documents state.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT