Retired Officer Arraigned On Stolen-Drug Charges

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (AP) -- A recently retired Bartlesville police officer has been formally arraigned after being charged with stealing seized drugs from the department's evidence room.<br/><br/>A

Saturday, September 15th 2007, 6:28 pm

By: News On 6

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (AP) -- A recently retired Bartlesville police officer has been formally arraigned after being charged with stealing seized drugs from the department's evidence room.

A judge entered a plea of not guilty on Thursday for 46 year-old Kyle Willaford, who stood in silence during the court hearing. Willaford's trial is set to begin on December 19.

Willaford is charged with 18 counts of larceny of a controlled dangerous substance. According to the filed charges, the alleged crimes were committed from August 2001 to November 2006.

He retired from the Bartlesville police force on February 24, two months before he was charged.

The â€œBartlesville Examiner-Enterprise,â€ citing a close source, has reported that Willaford is suffering from stage 4 cancer. Willaford remains free on a recognizance bond.