Two San Jose Police Officers Charged With Faking Drug Evidence, False Report

Two San Jose police officers face criminal charges after an internal investigation into missing drug evidence, the department said. Raydarius Surry, 29, and Destiney Thompson, 30, were arrested Oct. 28 and face charges of tampering with evidence and filing a false police report, CBS News Bay Area and NBC Bay Area report.

What police say happened

The case began in August, when the department found that a baggie of suspected narcotics listed in Surry's report on a May 3 arrest had never been booked into evidence. According to police, after Surry was told it was missing, he stopped and searched a pedestrian on Aug. 12 who had no connection to the May case. He found a similar baggie, seized it and took no other action, police said.

NBC Bay Area reports that police say Surry then booked that baggie into evidence under the May 3 case number and did not document the August stop. Police say Thompson watched body camera footage of the May arrest to help him plan the replacement. The two are in a relationship and both live in Gilroy, police said.

Department response

Surry was placed on paid leave Sept. 2 and Thompson on Sept. 18. Surry has been with the department eight years and Thompson six. NBC Bay Area reports the two surrendered Wednesday night, posted bail and were out of custody by Thursday evening.

"Falsifying evidence or police reports is a crime, and our Department moved swiftly to remove both officers from duty and pursue criminal accountability," Chief Paul Joseph said. CBS reports officials said there is no evidence of other report discrepancies by the two officers. The department also referred the case to the state's Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training for temporary decertification review.

The San Jose Police Officers' Association said it was deeply disappointed, writing, "If proven true, their actions run counter to the level of honesty and integrity necessary to wear our uniform," NBC reports. Raj Jayadev of the watchdog group Silicon Valley De-Bug said the case affects the department's credibility.