Officer accused of stealing $1 million in cocaine

updated 10:15 p.m. ET Dec. 24, 2007

SANTA ANA, Calif. - A California Highway Patrol officer is accused of breaking into an evidence locker and stealing more than $1 million worth of cocaine, prosecutors said.

Joshua Blackburn, 32, broke into the evidence locker room at highway patrol headquarters in Santa Ana early Friday and made off with several pounds of cocaine, Deputy District Attorney Susan Schroeder said. He was arrested later that day in Riverside County and the cocaine was recovered, she said.

Blackburn was being held on $4 million bail at Orange County Jail. His arraignment hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

His attorney, John Barnett, declined to comment because he had yet to receive a copy of the police report. An area phone directory listed no number for Blackburn.

A highway patrol officer declined to comment on the case because the investigation is ongoing.

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