DAYTON, Ohio (WKEF) — The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after evidence envelopes were found discarded near the Great Miami River in downtown Dayton.
The sheriff’s office said it became aware of the envelopes after a video showing them began circulating on social media.
Deputies with the Forensic Services Unit collected the materials and determined the property inside the envelopes was no longer needed because the associated criminal cases had been closed.
According to the sheriff’s office, the materials had previously been discarded in a dumpster at its headquarters building.
The dumpster is typically locked until it is emptied by the waste carrier. Investigators believe someone entered the dumpster and removed the discarded envelopes.
The sheriff’s office said removing discarded materials from a dumpster is not, by itself, considered illegal.
Deputies are now working to determine how the envelopes ended up near the Great Miami River and identify the person responsible for leaving them there.
Anyone with any information about the circumstances surrounding the envelopes is asked to contact Deputy Jackson at 937-781-3048.