Ex-Pennsylvania Officer Charged in Evidence Thefts

WEST MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, Pa. --

A former detective with the West Manchester Township Police Department has been charged in connection with the theft of drugs from evidence.

Steven Crider, 54, admitted to stealing and ingesting cocaine, heroin and marijuana that was seized in more than 100 cases since 2001, state police said.

In some of the cases, he allegedly replaced the drugs with chalk and tampered with records to cover it up.

Crider was fired last month, after 32 years on the force.

Copyright 2009 by WGAL.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.