DEKALB COUNTY, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James has beefed up security measures to protect evidence used in criminal cases.
"Under this administration, all of our sensitive items that we call contraband or dangerous instruments, like weapons, are placed in a heavy vault with a steel door with various security protocols that you have to go through to get in," said James.
James has placed a renewed focus on security after a gun stolen from police evidence was recovered during an arrest Tuesday. Investigators say the firearm was taken from an off-site storage facility on Memorial Drive that used to house police evidence.
"Under the previous administration, in 2008 I believe, weapons had been placed there. I was concerned that someone had made that decision and obviously that is not one that I would have authorized," James said.
Police say the gun was found on 21-year-old Camenthia Dixon. Dixon was arrested Tuesday at a wake for 19-year-old Carlos Henderson Jr. He is one of two victims shot to death at a funeral last week for 19-year-old Ryan Guider, a homicide victim. James says the theft of the gun should have been prevented.
"It is something that if proper security protocols and procedures had been followed, it would not have happened, but again, I can't emphasize enough, it is not something that was done under this administration but it is something we have cleaned up," James said.
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