Ex-Columbus police officer arrested on drug-related charges

COLUMBUS, Ind. (AP) - A former police officer faces misconduct, theft and drug charges related to his time supervising the Columbus Police Department's narcotics division.

Jeremy R. Coomes, 38, of Columbus was arrested Wednesday afternoon and booked into the Bartholomew County Jail, according to a news release from the Indiana State Police. He's charged with official misconduct, misdemeanor and felony theft, and possession of methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, a narcotic drug and a controlled substance.

Indiana State Police started investigating Coomes after it was contacted by the Columbus Police Department in October about evidence that was missing from its evidence room.

During his time as supervisor, Coomes is accused of removing various drugs from the police department's evidence room. Investigators claim he never returned some of those items of evidence, and in some cases, he returned items different from the evidence he signed out.

He's also accused of possessing illegal drugs outside of the scope of his official job responsibilities.

Coomes started working for the Columbus Police Department in 2005. He served as supervisor of the department's narcotics unit from December 2011 until he resigned in October 2015.

Coomes was released from jail after posting 10 percent of his $75,000 bond, jail officials told The (Columbus) Republic. He's expected to appear in court May 9, according to court records.

He doesn't have a working phone number in Columbus.