State investigates wrongdoing at Cheney crime lab

The manager of a state crime laboratory in Eastern Washington has resigned during an investigation that he mishandled case files and failed to complete lab work.

The investigation into misconduct at the State Patrol’s Cheney crime lab found that at least five cases had been mishandled. There are allegations that the manager, who was not named, claimed to have completed case work that was never actually done.

Subordinates voiced concerns about their boss to the crime lab’s division commander, prompting the investigation. No other employees are implicated in the wrongdoing.

“We continue to have confidence in the work of our front-line scientists and supervisors in Cheney, and at our other labs throughout the state,” said WSP Crime Laboratory Division Commander James Tarver in a statement.

The State Patrol insists there is no indication that the misconduct led to any wrongful convictions. The agency is notifying prosecutors and police agencies which submitted the cases identified in the investigation.