| For Immediate Release Case # TBA December 24, 2007 |
Contact: Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 |
CHP OFFICER ARRESTED FOR
BREAKING INTO EVIDENCE ROOM
SANTA ANA — The Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) and Santa Ana Police Department, in cooperation with the California Highway Patrol (CHP), arrested a CHP officer and recovered several kilograms of cocaine that had been stolen from CHP headquarters in Santa Ana. Joshua Blackburn, 32, of Murrieta, a 6-year veteran of CHP, is being held on $4 million bail at the Orange County Jail. The CHP has been cooperating fully in the investigation. The OCDA will be filing charges and the defendant will be arraigned on Wednesday, December 26, 2007, at the Central Justice Center at a time and courtroom to be determined.
On December 21, 2007 at about 4 a.m., officials at the CHP office in Santa Ana discovered a break in their evidence locker room. There were signs of forced entry. CHP immediately notified Santa Ana Police who asked OCDA to head the investigation. The stolen cocaine was evidence involving another incident in which two suspects were arrested. The original case involving the cocaine is still pending.
During the early morning hours of December 21, 2007, Blackburn is accused of breaking into the evidence room, taking the cocaine, and hiding it. OCDA investigators have recovered all of the stolen cocaine, which had a wholesale value of $1 million.
The OCDA is continuing to investigate the case. Assistant District Attorney Walt Schwarm of the Major Narcotics Unit is prosecuting the case.
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