CHARLOTTE — A former Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department DNA analyst has been charged with misdemeanor obstruction of justice following a state investigation, the N.C. SBI said.
Kelly Elizabeth Shea was charged by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation after Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather requested an inquiry. Shea was processed Monday morning and released without bond.
The charge involves filing a false report to a police station in connection with an incident on March 4, 2024, during a DNA laboratory analysis, according to an arrest warrant.
According to the warrant, Shea made a misleading report to CMPD by unlawfully and intentionally switching a positive control sample during a quality control step. Investigators said the action was taken to obstruct, impede or hinder public and legal justice during the laboratory analysis process.
She was placed on administrative leave without pay on Sept. 24, 2024, pending the outcome of an internal review, CMPD said. Shea resigned after that, effective Jan. 31, 2025.
Shea started at CMPD in January 2016.
No additional details have been made available.
This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com and watch Eyewitness News for updates.
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