VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WVEC) -- The Commonwealth's Attorney has dropped a range of charges against ten people after an administrative investigation at the police department led to the abrupt resignation of an officer.
On Tuesday, Officer Chris Skinner was supposed to appear at court to give witness testimony against defendants he arrested during traffic stops. But by then, he had already quit his job.
"An administrative investigation was initiated by the police department. Mr. Skinner is no longer an employee of the City of Virginia Beach," said Officer Tonya Borman, a spokeswoman for the department.
Citing various Virginia Freedom of Information Act exemptions, police would not comment on the circumstances surrounding the internal review of Skinner.
Prosecutors were forced to withdraw charges against the ten people at court Tuesday because of "evidentiary concerns," according to Macie Pridgen, a spokeswoman for the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney.
Skinner had arrested the defendants on a slew of charges ranging in severity from a second offense DWI to a minor seat belt violation.
Prosecutors would not call Skinner as a witness over questions about his credibility, Pridgen said.
"We have been advised by the VBPD that C. Skinner resigned. We will be evaluating and handling his cases on a case by case basis to see if we can proceed. It is our obligation and responsibility to so do anytime we have a witness who is unavailable," said Pridgen.
Skinner had been recognized for his police work multiple times during his time at the VBPD.
He received a life saving medal in 2012 and a special commendation in 2014, according to the city's website.
No criminal charges have been filed against Skinner and police would not comment whether a criminal investigation was underway.