Alton Officer Indicted For Destroying Evidence

by Stephanie Diff
KSDK
Dec. 18, 2014

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MADISON COUNTY, Ill. – An Alton, Illinois police officer is accused of destroying evidence. Now, he has been indicted on a felony charge of official misconduct.

Jonathan K. Forrler, 38, is accused of destroying forensic evidence gathered as part of a sexual assault case. According to the indictment, the evidence included a rape kit and clothing.

The Madison County State's Attorney's Office says someone notified it over the summer that evidence was missing from the Alton Police Department. So the office, along with the FBI and Illinois State Police, launched an investigation. Authorities say they found missing evidence in 130 cases.

Forrler, who was working as an evidence officer, was charged in the sexual assault case because of the strict standards the law holds when it comes to handling rape kits. Madison County State's Attorney Thomas Gibbons says the missing evidence will allow felons to walk free in dozens of cases. His office notified the defendants in all 130 cases of the situation.