CYPRESS : A Would-Be Sting That Bit the Dust

It was supposed to be a routine sting operation.

Narcotics investigators checked out several bags of cocaine from the evidence locker. Posing as sellers, they planned to use the high-quality drug to catch a gang of dope buyers.

But it was the narcs who got stung instead.

To their surprise and chagrin, police discovered beforehand that the cocaine--nearly 11 pounds--had been exchanged surreptitiously for some harmless and worthless powder.

It happened 16 months ago, and authorities still don’t know who might have made off with the real thing and left the fake.

Police Chief Daryl Wicker confirmed Wednesday that his department and the Orange County district attorney’s office have been conducting a quiet but as yet unsuccessful probe into the September, 1990, theft ever since.

“I wish I could tell you by tomorrow that I have (a suspect) in handcuffs,” Wicker said. Officials believe it could have been an inside job, and Wicker said it was not made public earlier for fear of compromising the investigation. “I don’t know who it is, but we won’t give up until we’ve found him.”

Narcotics detectives had borrowed the coke, under court order, from Fullerton police, Wicker said. After one bust, it was returned to the evidence locker, secured by two locked doors and a cage.

Several weeks later, narcotics officers tested the drug before another sting operation and found that much of the cocaine had been exchanged for worthless powder.

Wicker declined to say what substance was switched for the drug. Nor would he say exactly how much of the nearly five kilos was taken. A kilo is worth $11,500 on the street, he added.

The undercover officers might have been put in peril if the drug dealers had found out it was fake coke, Wicker said.

The Orange County district attorney’s office has been investigating ever since, said Deputy Dist. Atty. John Conley. No one has been arrested. He would not say whether they have identified any suspects, but added that the case is “very voluminous.”

Conley said the case is an extremely rare occurrence, especially in Orange County. “I had never heard of it actually happening before,” he said. “It’s the only one that comes to my mind in the past 20 years.”

Wicker said that 10 individuals, including police officers and non-sworn property clerks, have access to the locker. Everyone with a key has been interviewed, and is being questioned in detail this week. He may give employees polygraph tests if further questioning fails to turn up a suspect.

Wicker was dismayed at the possibility that a police employee could be responsible.

“It certainly impacts the officers as they go about their duties,” Wicker said. “Public trust is so important and to have this happen is incredible. It’s an incredible breach of trust.”