58 Felony Cases Dismissed Amid Hanceville Police Evidence Tampering Scandal

Nearly 60 felony cases, primarily drug-related, have been dismissed in Hanceville, Alabama, following revelations of illegal actions by former Hanceville Police Department officers, including evidence tampering and other misconduct. An audit by the Alabama State Bureau of Investigations uncovered that the evidence room was highly insecure, with missing documentation, a hole in the wall, and missing or unaccounted-for cash and firearms. The same grand jury that indicted the former police chief and several officers also determined these cases were unprosecutable and voted to dismiss them, citing compromised evidence and procedural failures. In response, the Hanceville City Council voted to suspend and completely rebuild the police department, with the Cullman County Sheriff's Office temporarily stepping in to provide law enforcement services. City officials and the district attorney have emphasized transparency and the need to restore public trust in the wake of the scandal. The audit and photographic evidence of the evidence room's condition have been made public as part of these efforts.