Medical Examiner investigator arrested

Gretl Plessinger reported to Historic City News that a St Johns County man, trusted for the collection and preservation of evidence as a forensic investigator with the Office of the Medical Examiner, was arrested this morning on charges of official misconduct, dealing in stolen property, and false verification of ownership on a pawnbroker transaction form.

Agents with the Tallahassee and Jacksonville Regional Operations Centers of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested 46-year-old Christopher Dwight Allen, who resides at 4424 North Pennycress Place in Saint Johns, at around 7:30 a.m. this morning at the District 4 Medical Examiner’s Office in Jacksonville and booked into the Duval County Jail.

“The investigation began in May, 2013, after relatives of a Hamilton County woman alleged several items of jewelry, including a ring, watch and necklace, had been stolen from their loved one following her death,” Plessinger told local reporters. “Agents reviewed pawn broker transactions that indicated Allen sold 62 pieces of jewelry to pawn shops within the previous year.”

Allen had been employed with the Office of the Medical Examiner since August 2008. His responsibilities included conducting death investigations, assisting homicide and traffic homicide investigators, and the collection and preservation of evidence.

Investigators allege at least some of the pawned items were stolen from deceased persons whom Allen had access to as a forensic investigator.

The State Attorney’s Office, 4th Judicial Circuit will prosecute this case.