Task Force Board Members Respond to Audit
This video is no longer available.
“This could be a mess. I don’t know,” said Jackson lawyer Dr. Bede Ananwu, in regards to the findings of an audit of the 24th Judicial Drug Task Force. Dr. Ananwu has defended thousands of West Tennesseans, many facing drug charges. He now wonders if justice has been served by the 24th Judicial Drug Task Force, where drugs are just some of the items reportedly taken from evidence. “They could use it, keep them in there vehicle and use those drugs to plant evidence against somebody or vice versa. It could also mean some innocent individual have been prosecuted,” added Dr. Ananwu. Although Ananwu is not currently handling any cases in Henry County, he said he would not be surprised if he got a few calls.”Open the flood gates of those tried in Henry County,” added Dr. Ananwu. Decatur County Sheriff and Task Force board member Roy Wyatt says he and his colleagues are working hard to make things right. “It is a major problem, but were trying hard,” explained Wyatt. The Task Force Board is not immune to criticism in the audit. It is cited for lack of oversight and failure to maintain proper evidence records. Wyatt said when they realized their faults, they immediately got to work and believes the past is the past. “A lot of evidence that was tampered with, those cases have already been solved in court. The evidence had not been destroyed,” added Sheriff Wyatt. Sheriff Wyatt is not making any excuses. He said changes have already been made and even though the Task Force includes five counties, only Decatur and Hardin will serve on the board. “We want to move forward, we just need to do things right ,” said Sheriff Wyatt.
