Former Columbus PD officer accused of stealing drugs from evidence room

COLUMBUS, Ind. (WISH) – A former Columbus police officer was arrested Wednesday afternoon and faces multiple charges related to alleged misconduct while employed by the Columbus Police Department.

As a result of an Indiana State Police investigation, 38-year-old Jeremy R. Coomes faces five felony charges, including possession of methamphetamine, possession of cocaine, theft, and official misconduct. He also faces four misdemeanor charges.

A Columbus Police Department annual audit uncovered “discrepancies” with the evidence held in its evidence room and in October 2015, the department contacted ISP to investigate.

During the investigation, it was learned that Coomes joined the Columbus Police Department in 2005, and from December 2011 until October 2015 was the department’s Narcotics Unit Supervisor.

During his time as supervisor, Coomes allegedly removed various drugs from the department’s evidence room. He allegedly never returned some of those items, and in some cases returned items different from the evidence he originally signed out.