Ex-Phoenix policeman accused of narcotics theft

PHOENIX - A former Phoenix police detective has been arrested for alleged evidence tampering and narcotics theft from the department's property room.

Police say 37-year-old William B. McCartney was taken into custody June 27 in Pittsburgh and extradited to Phoenix on Wednesday night.

McCartney was indicted June 19 on a 40-count felony indictment obtained by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. He's accused of multiple counts of tampering with evidence, possession of narcotics, possession of dangerous drugs, computer tampering, felony theft and fraudulent schemes.

Phoenix police conducted a quarterly audit of drug items cleared for destruction from its property room in January 2011 and discovered some Oxycodone tablets were replaced with over-the-counter medication.

McCartney was arrested in the case in March 2011, but quit the police force and was released pending an investigation.