ALTOONA, IOWA – An Iowa police detective is facing serious charges after allegedly tampering with drug evidence.
On October 15, 2018, Joshua Copeland, 39, was placed under arrest by the Altoona Police Department and was transported to the Polk County Jail. Copeland’s bond was $21,000 and Copeland has since bonded out of jail. Copeland was charged with 2 counts of Felony Forgery, 2 counts of Felonious Misconduct in Office and 1 count of Possession of Methamphetamine, a serious misdemeanor. Copeland was an Altoona Police Department Detective who had recently resigned from the department.
On January 22, 2018, the Altoona Police Department requested assistance by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to investigate allegations against a member of the Altoona Police Department that someone had possibly tampered with some drug evidence. An investigation was started by the Iowa DCI. During the ongoing investigation, methamphetamine was discovered in a city police vehicle issued to Detective Copeland. Items of evidentiary value in regards to evidence tampering were sent into the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Criminalistics Laboratory. Upon examination of these items, it was found that the handwriting on the forged evidence packaging was made by Detective Copeland. After the investigation was completed, the results were turned over to the Polk County Attorney’s office for review. As a result of that review, the above charges were filed against Copeland.
This is an ongoing investigation being worked jointly by the Altoona Police Department, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Polk County Attorney’s Office.
No further information will be released at this time.
Complaint and Affidavit – Felony Forgery, Count 1
Complaint and Affidavit – Felony Forgery, Count 2
Complaint and Affidavit – Felonious Misconduct, Count 1
Complaint and Affidavit – Felonious Misconduct, Count 2
Complaint and Affidavit – Possession of Methamphetamine (Serious Misdemeanor)
