3 Polk Co. Deputies Resign, Face Evidence Tampering Charges

Lakeland FL

23 March, 2021

1:39 PM

Description

POLK COUNTY, FL — Three deputies with the Polk County Sheriff's Office are accused of tampering with evidence after $723 and a cell phone were taken during a drug arrest, authorities said. Deputy John Raczynski found narcotics and cash on a woman he pulled over in Winter Haven after a traffic stop Dec. 21, according to detectives. Deputy Jamal Lawson and Deputy Garrett Cook arrived as backups during the search. Raczynski wrote in his report, "The driver was found to have a large amount of U.S. currency inside her right pants pocket. The denominations of the U.S. currency are consistent with small narcotic sales." Thirteen items of evidence were placed in a property and evidence storage locker at a police substation on Dec. 23, according to investigators. The cash, which Raczynski recorded in the probable cause affidavit and PCSO incident report, was not listed as an item of evidence, nor was it placed with the suspect's belongings at the jail. After the suspect was released from jail, she contacted the sheriff's office March 15 and asked what happened to her money and cell phone. Detectives then began an investigation into her missing items. Deputies said they found a supplemental report created by Raczynski on March 16 that showed he added the $723. It also showed the report was electronically signed by Raczynski. Cook's signature was on the report, which meant he served as witness, according to authorities. During the investigation, detectives determined the electronic notary to be fraudulent. Raczynski's sergeant asked him about the missing money, police said. He told his supervisor that he and Lawson were going to "make it right" by submitting their own money into evidence to replace it. His supervisor instructed him that was not proper procedure, and to take not further action. Afterward, an internal and criminal investigation was launched. Lawson was interviewed on March 19, and detectives said he gave conflicting stories. Raczynski later confessed to police that he forged Cook's signature as witness. In an interview with Cook, he confirmed the events of the original arrest, authorities said. He was aware of the missing money, but never informed their supervisor's about it, deputies said. "Everyone at this agency knows that they are held to the highest standards, and they also know that if they break the law, we're going to hold them strictly accountable," Sheriff Grady Judd said. "I'm angry that these three violated the law, and in the process, betrayed the trust of our citizens. Their actions are reprehensible, and do not reflect the mission and vision of the Polk County Sheriff's Office. I also commend the agency members who immediately took action to do the right thing and correct this unlawful conduct." According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the three deputies resigned from their jobs, and face the following charges: John Raczynski Conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence, for conspiring with Lawson and Cook in unlawful tampering for fabricating evidenceOfficial misconduct, for knowingly and intentionally falsifying an official record to cover up the loss of evidenceTampering or fabricating evidence, by obtaining money to submit into evidence, knowing it was to be unlawfully submittedForgery, for forging another deputy's signature to his reportUttering forged instrument, for publishing as true a false and forged record Jamal Lawson Conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence, for conspiring with Cook and Raczynski in unlawful tampering or fabricating evidenceOfficial misconduct, for knowingly and intentionally causing another person to falsify an official record to cover up the loss of evidenceTampering or fabricating evidence, by transferring money to Raczynski via the CashApp, knowing it was to be unlawfully submitted as evidence Garrett Cook Conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence, for conspiring with Lawson and Raczynski in unlawful tampering or fabricating evidence