Gulf Shores Police Employee Arrested

He worked for the Gulf Shores Police Department for 13 years. Now Barry Martin sits in a Baldwin County jail cell accused of stealing from the very place he was in charge of keeping secure. "He had the very trusted position of being our evidence custodian," says Police Chief Ed Delmore.

Gulf Shores police say they began an internal investigation last week into missing guns and drugs. That led to a search of Martin's home on Friday. "We recovered numerous items of evidence that we believe came or originated from the Gulf Shores Police Department," says Major Anthony Lowery with the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office.

Martin had been custodian of the evidence room since July of 2010. "Someone we were completely surprised by," says Delmore. "It's a situation where we're still shocked, embarrassed and frankly very angry that he would do this."

The impact of this arrest could have far reaching affects, all the way from Gulf Shores to the courthouse in Bay Minette. "Yes, there will be cases that are compromised," says District Attorney Hallie Dixon. "We do not know the extent yet."

The district attorney's office is in the process of reviewing cases involving the Gulf Shores police department. "I would expect we would have a hundred or less total cases both before and after indictment," according to Dixon.

The district attorney's office began the process of reviewing cases Monday morning. They have already found eleven drug cases that could be impacted by this arrest.

Meanwhile, Martin is charged with theft of property and drug charges. His bond is set at 15 thousand dollars. Termination proceedings have begun with the city of Gulf Shores.