South Texas police chief, officer indicted for allegedly stealing marijuana from evidence locker

Sullivan Police Chief Miguel Angel Martinez (pictured) and former Sullivan police officer Angel De La Mora have been charged in connection with the theft of marijuana from the department's evidence room. Sullivan Police Chief Miguel Angel Martinez (pictured) and former Sullivan police officer Angel De La Mora have been charged in connection with the theft of marijuana from the department's evidence room. Photo: Courtesy KGBT Photo: Courtesy KGBT Image 1 of / 50 Caption Close South Texas police chief, officer indicted for allegedly stealing marijuana from evidence locker 1 / 50 Back to Gallery

A South Texas police chief and a former police officer have been charged in connection with the theft of marijuana from the department's evidence locker.

Sullivan Police Chief Miguel Martinez and former Sullivan police officer Angel De La Mora were arraigned Tuesday on charges of theft by a public servant, abuse of official capacity and possession of marijuana stemming from the alleged incident in May 2015, according to online jail records.

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News station KGBT reported that the Texas Rangers raided the department on June 8 after Sullivan Police Sgt. Daniel Duran alerted them to security footage showing de la Mora allegedly taking marijuana from the evidence room and stuffing it inside of a bottle in May.

Martinez is accused of watching de la Mora take the marijuana, which was more than four ounces but less than five pounds, according to indictments filed in Hidalgo district court.

De La Mora told police that Martinez allowed him to take the marijuana, according to the news station.

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The City of Sullivan, almost 25 miles west of McAllen on the U.S.-Mexico border, suspended Martinez for three days without pay in June and fired De La Mora in July, KGBT reported.

Duran sued the city in Hidalgo district court in September, claiming the City of Sullivan retaliated against him for reporting the conduct to the Texas Rangers when they suspended him for three days in June.

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Martinez and De La Rosa were released from Hidalgo County Jail on Tuesday on bond amounts of $12,500 and $20,000, respectively, online jail records show.

jfechter@mySA.com

Twitter: @JFreports