(Roosevelt County, NM) – On Jan. 11, 2019 the evidence custodian for the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office reported approximately $8000.00 cash missing from the evidence vault at the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Malin Parker reported the missing cash to the NM State Police for investigation immediately after conducting an internal audit of the vault. A subsequent investigation by State Police had negative findings for a responsible party.

In May 2020 after a supervisor called for a routine weapons inspection of firearms at the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office, a Deputy with the Sheriff’s Office reported he could not locate his duty issued Glock model 22 .40 caliber weapon. After a thorough search the weapon was not located and the NM State Police were again notified to investigate as the Deputy reported the gun stolen. After a lengthy and thorough investigation was conducted by State Police, Sheriff Parker was notified approximately 1 ½ months later with their findings.

It was reported to Sheriff Parker that upon conducting interviews with Deputy Christopher Franklin McCasland and others he has had,or has involvement with, that numerous other crimes were discovered.  A search warrant was conducted on the home Of Deputy McCasland and numerous reported stolen items from previous crimes were discovered from a different county in NM where McCasland had previously worked as a police officer.  It was also disclosed to Sheriff Parker that the missing money previously reported was possibly linked to McCasland according to witness interviews and purchases made.  

Deputy McCasland was placed on immediate leave pending an internal investigation.  The findings of the Sheriff’s Office as a result of the investigation included.  A letter located in Chris McCaslands county issued vehicle showing he has an active arrest warrant in Yuma County AZ. for failure to pay traffic citations. The warrant was not discovered by Roosevelt County as it had not been entered in to the National Crime Information Data Base and regular records checks did not indicate.   Chris McCasland never reported the warrant.  A small amount of marijuana was also located in ChrisMcCasland’s unit and it is unknown its origin.  As a result of the State Police investigation Chris McCasland was sent to an independent polygraph examiner with 43 years of experience in Amarillo TX.  McCasland was questioned about the previous missing cash from the evidence vault and the examiner reported deception in regards to the questions.  All questions in regards to criminal charges should be forwarded to the NM State Police Office.  

The Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office has an extreme amount of pride and integrity in the job they perform for the citizens of Roosevelt County and we take great pride in making sure EVERYONE,

including ourselves are held accountable for our way of living! 

Chris McCasland was served with a notice of termination July 13, 2020. Chris McCasland resigned his position via 3rd party on July 14, 2020.  Chris McCasland was arrested in Quay County NM by the NM State Police on July 15, 2020 at approximately 11:15am on the charge of Receiving stolen property over 500 but not more than 2500 dollars a fourth degree felony and currently has no bond.  

The Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the NM State Police for an exceptional job in their investigation and the 9thJudicial DA for their guidance!