On October 24th, 2023, a routine shift at the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department turned into a life-or-death emergency. When an on-duty deputy walked into the restroom, he found his colleague, Deputy Marvin Morales, unresponsive on the floor.
Panic immediately set in. Thinking Morales was a victim of accidental narcotic exposure from a traffic stop he had conducted just hours earlier, his partners rushed to administer Narcan and save his life. They thought he was a hero who had paid the price for a dangerous job.
But the truth was far more sinister.
While Morales was being rushed to the hospital, investigators began a sweep of the bathroom stall. What they found hidden by the door changed everything: a small glass pipe and an orange torch lighter.
As the investigation deepened, the “hero” narrative completely crumbled. Medical reports revealed that Morales had been using narcotics for at least 90 days. He wasn’t a victim of accidental exposure—he was a user who was stealing methamphetamine from the very evidence he seized during his arrests.
Morales chose to resign in disgrace on February 2nd, 2024, just before he could be formally fired. He went from an officer of the law to a disgraced addict in a single shift, leaving his department and his community in shock.
What do you think? Should this deputy face criminal charges for stealing evidence and using it on duty, or was losing his career and his reputation enough punishment? Sound off in the comments! 👇
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