Kentwood police chief booked with malfeasance, obstruction of justice
Florida Parishes bureau
January 17, 2013
KENTWOOD — Kentwood Police Chief Gregory Newton was arrested and booked with malfeasance in office and obstruction of justice Wednesday following an investigation into missing evidence, State Police said.
State Police detectives received a citizen complaint in December alleging that about $2,000 had been misappropriated by the Kentwood Police Department, Trooper 1st Class Nick Manale said in a news release.
The money had been submitted to the department as evidence following its recovery from a residential burglary investigation, Manale said.
Troopers determined that Newton, 59, of Kentwood, was the sole guardian of the missing evidence and was responsible for its misuse, Manale said.
Investigators concluded that Newton had intentionally tampered with the evidence, constituting malfeasance, and obtained a warrant for his arrest.
After Newton surrendered to State Police detectives, Manale said, he was booked without incident into the Tangipahoa Parish Jail with bail set at $50,000, Manale said.