Fired Sophia Cop: Ex-boss Spoiled Lawsuit Evidence - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

Fired Sophia Cop: Ex-boss Spoiled Lawsuit Evidence

SOPHIA (AP) -

A former Sophia police officer who says he was fired because he's black has added a new charge to his lawsuit against his former chief - spoiling evidence.

An amended complaint filed last week in U.S. District Court in Beckley claims Chief Tomi Peck produced an investigation report on officer Damon McDowell for his unemployment hearing in May. But she allegedly failed to preserve computer records that would show whether it was created before the firing.

The complaint accuses her of deliberately denying McDowell and his lawyers the chance to determine whether the document is forensically sound.

It also says she altered a document used during the May hearing, changing the date she fired McDowell.

Peck and the other defendants have denied any wrongdoing. Her lawyers didn't immediately comment Monday.

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