Will politics and law enforcement corruption influence the criminal investigation into what really happened?
Updated March 8, 2012
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Recently, the Daytona Beach NewsJournal published an article detailing some long on going concerns attached to the Ormond Beach Police Department's evidence room.
VolusiaExposed.Com requested and received a copy of the Ormond Beach Police Department's internal investigation into the allegations surrounding their evidence room (see below PDF copy).
Interestingly, according to both the newspaper article and the police investigation, three individuals have been identified has having routine access to the evidence room.
Janitor / maintenance man - Corey Fontana - who is currently serving a prison sentence after admitting that he stole from the evidence room in order to support a drug habit.
Former Evidence Technician - Michael Haller - who suddenly resigned during the department's investigation into the concerns attached to the evidence room.
Evidence Room Custodian - Shannon Champion - per her own request she was reassigned during the investigation to another job within the Ormond Beach Police Department.
VolusiaExposed.Com has received information that the Ormond Beach / FDLE investigation into possible criminal conduct attached to the evidence room scandal has possibly been inappropriately influenced.
Obviously, Mr. Fontana has already been arrested for his activities, but the internal affairs report seems to indicate additional arrest(s) might be forth coming.
VolusiaExposed.Com has learned that former Evidence Room Custodian, Shannon Champion is the spouse of retired Ormond Beach Officer Vince Champion. Mr. Vince Champion is currently the President of the Coastal Florida PBA. Interestingly, per public records, he has his law enforcement certificate active, as an auxiliary officer, with the State Attorney Office, Seventh Judicial Circuit.
Public Records also indicate that a Deborah A. Reith-Champion is a full time investigator with the State Attorney Office, Seventh Judicial Circuit. Any relationship with Shannon? That is unknown at the time, however, it has been confirmed that Shannon is the spouse of Vince Champion, and Vince appears to have some good ties with the Ormond Beach PD, a local police union and the Office of the State Attorney, Seventh Judicial Circuit.
Is all of this a conflict of interest? We would guess that would depend on what your definition of a conflict of interest is. The State Attorney and the Ormond Beach Police Department might believe that, the current status quo investigative process, is in both of their best interests.
As one of my OLD TIME retired military sergeants use to said - "Stand By to Stand By - more to come - over and out for now !!!"