BEND, OR -- Claims of tampering with drug evidence could put hundreds of local criminal cases in doubt. A forensic analyst with the Oregon State Police lab in Bend was put on leave earlier this month, after she was accused of tampering with evidence.
The Oregonian reports officials are not saying exactly how many cases the woman worked on. However, the paper reports, a sampling of affected counties, brings the total to nearly 1,000 cases dating back several years.
Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel said he now has to re-test the evidence in 502 cases dating back to 2012.
The Bend lab is one of five operated by OSP, statewide. Others are in Portland, Pendleton, Springfield and Central Point.