GRISWOLD – A former New London police officer who was investigated by the department for issues related to evidence processing was found dead in a car in Griswold.
State Police said that at around 4:30 p.m. on Monday they went to a commuter lot near Exit 24 on Interstate 395 and found Russell MacDonald, 35, of Jewett City, dead in a car.
Police said the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner went the scene and will conduct a post-mortem examination to determine cause and manner of death, but there is no foul play suspected.
There is no criminal aspect to this untimely death, according to police, nor is there is a threat to the public or community.
In May of 2015, The New London Police Department investigated inconsistencies discovered during an audit of its evidence room.
According to New London Deputy Police Chief Peter Reichard, the audit stemmed from a March 28 incident involving their evidence officer, MacDonald, at an apartment on Russell Street in Griswold.
Reichard said McDonald was placed on paid administrative leave and that Connecticut State Police, the responding agency to the Town of Griswold, confiscated guns from the apartment, but that those guns were all the McDonald’s personal property.