Chandler — An Arizona Department of Public Safety supervising forensic scientist, Todd Whittard, has been arrested for stealing multiple weapon-related accessories and ammunition.
The 52-year-old Whittard was arrested at his home in Chandler, and booked into the Maricopa County 4th Avenue Jail on charges of theft, forgery, and fraudulent schemes and artifices.
According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, a criminal investigation and internal audit was initiated in September 2018, into Whittard, “who was seen on multiple instances removing numerous rifle magazines, ammunition, and other firearm accessories from the crime lab’s non-evidentiary storage facility.”
Whittard would conceal the items either within his pocket or within a bag and take the items to his office, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS). On the day of his arrest, Whittard was observed in his office with a canvas bag containing rifle magazines and ammunition taken from the storage facility. Whittard was later seen taking the bag from his office to his truck and then leaving the AZDPS facility with them. The taken items were later found at Whittard’s home in his vehicle.
“Every employee with the Department is held to the highest standards and levels of public trust. This department will not accept any employee’s breach of that trust and will take swift action to ensure those employees are dealt with appropriately,” said Colonel Frank Milstead.