Deputy Accused of Stealing Narcotics From Public Drug Drop Box Arrested
A Sumter County Sheriff’s deputy has been arrested after investigators say he stole prescription narcotics from a medication disposal box intended for the public.
According to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, 57-year-old Dennis Leon Turner Jr. was taken into custody and fired from the agency following an internal investigation into missing medications from one of the department’s secure drug drop locations.
Officials say concerns were raised after evidence suggested the disposal box had been accessed improperly. Investigators then reportedly used covert surveillance, which allegedly captured Turner opening the container with a department-issued key and removing medications from inside.
Turner originally joined the sheriff’s office in 2019 as a civilian employee before later becoming a sworn deputy in 2023. At the time of the incident, he was assigned to community relations duties.
Sheriff Patrick Breeden described the arrest as disappointing and said the agency would not tolerate misconduct within the department. Breeden also stated that additional safeguards and reviews of internal procedures will be implemented to help prevent similar incidents from happening again.
Turner now faces several criminal charges, including:
- Two counts of grand theft involving controlled substances
- Two counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription
- Burglary of an unoccupied structure
- Petit theft
Jail records show Turner was booked into custody on May 7, 2026.
The investigation remains ongoing.