Report: Detroit Homicide Sergeant Caught Wearing Murder Victim's Expensive Watch
DETROIT (WWJ) - A sergeant with the Detroit Police homicide unit is in hot water after he was caught wearing a murder victim's expensive watch.
According to a report in the Detroit News, Sgt. Alex Vinson was in charge of a case a few months ago where the victim's belongings included an expensive German-made timepiece. The watch was photographed and taken as evidence, which was stored in the homicide unit's property room. Investigators were unable to develop any suspects and eventually, the case went cold.
Earlier this week, while Vinson was undergoing advanced police training in Idaho, detectives decided to reopen the case. Wanting to take another look at the victim's belongings, detectives retrieved the case evidence from the property room and realized something was amiss.
The victim's expensive, German-made watch looked different from the one photographed as evidence, and had instead been replaced with a cheaper model, Police Chief James Craig confirmed to the newspaper.
The DPD contacted the FBI for help recovering the watch -- which Vinson was wearing during the training session.
Vinson returned to Michigan Wednesday and was immediately suspended from his position. Craig said his department is preparing a warrant for review by prosecutors, who will determine what charges Vinson might face.