LAKE COUNTY — Mike Morshed, a 19-year veteran with the Lake County Sheriff”s Office (LCSO) currently holding the rank of deputy sheriff, is under investigation and on approved leave, according to Sheriff Rodney K. Mitchell.
“Several weeks ago our department initiated a criminal investigation pertaining to the unlawful distribution of official department records. This investigation led to the production of a search warrant for Mike Morshed”s home and person and that warrant was served on Feb. 10,” Mitchell said.
Morshed”s investigation began on the heels of the arrest of former LCSO correctional officer Russell “Rusty” Wright. Mitchell said the new investigation began Feb. 3 when it was learned that a records and incident management system (RIMS) report was copied onto media Web sites in Lake County.
“This is an unauthorized dissemination of protected information,” Mitchell said on Feb. 4. “This is egregious misconduct that is actively being investigated. It compromises the integrity of a criminal investigation and has an impact on the overall process.”
RIMS reports are authorized only for law enforcement agencies to access, according to Mitchell.
It was confirmed Friday by Mitchell that the unlawful dissemination of official information was in relation to RIMS reports that appeared on blogs and Internet posts on media Web sites.
There is no alleged connection in the investigation of Wright and Morshed.
Mitchell said no warrants have been issued to any other LCSO employees at this time in regard to this case.
Computers and other items were seized pursuant to the warrant. LCSO has since requested the assistance of the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and that agency agreed to take over the investigation.
“It is too early to know whether the investigation will end up in arrests or charges of any kind,” Mitchell said.
Mandy Feder can be reached at mandyfeder@yahoo.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 32.
