Quincy Man Freed by Braintree Police Evidence Scandal Arrested Again

BRAINTREE, MA — A Quincy man whose case out of Braintree was dropped due to issues with the police department's evidence room was arrested again over the weekend.

On Oct. 9, David A. Arrufat was found by Quincy police officers unconscious in a running car. Tuesday, he pleaded not guilty in Quincy District Court to possession of a Class A substance with intent to distribute, according to the Boston Globe. Bail was set at $500.

Arrufat originally pleaded guilty in Norfolk Superior Court to possession with intent to distribute heroin. He was sentenced to two and a half years in jail, with one year to serve and the balance suspended, but because of evidence issues, he was able to vacate his plea on Sept. 27.

Problems with the Braintree Police Department arose during an audit of the room earlier this year. Officer Susan Zopatti, who ran the room, killed herself in May days after speaking to the auditor.

According to the audit released in September, thousands of pieces of evidence and nearly $408,000 were found to be missing. Mayor Joseph Sullivan has since said that $140,000 in cash has been accounted for as has all but 12 of the 60 missing firearms. Some of the evidence may have been disposed of in purges conducted in 2009 and 2012, Sullivan said.

Since the release of the audit, Police Chief Russell Jenkins has retired and Deputy Chief Wayne Foster has been placed on leave.

Image: file photo