Jury hangs; ex-police chief to face new trail

Former Austin Police Chief Shawn Foringer seized this marijuana and cash in a 2004 bust. He was later charged with a portion of stealing it.

on two more serious felony

Potter County District

counts stemming from the Attorney Dawn Finkwill decide

disappearance of the controlled soon whether to retry her case

substance. against former Austin Police

Charges were filed by Pa. Chief Shawn Foringer, after a

State Police in October 2005, jury deadlocked on charges that

some 20 months after the he stole two pounds of

marijuana was seized from two marijuana confiscated in a 2004

Buffalo, N.Y., men stopped for bust.

a traffic violation in the

Jurors found Foringer guilty

borough. of giving false reports to law

Testimony during Foringer's enforcement authorities, but

trial last week revealed that he were not able to reach a decision gave police several contradictory statements during the course of the investigation, ranging from an admission that he took the marijuana to a claim that he lost it while training his dog on drug detection.

Called as a witness in his own defense, Foringer admitted that he had lied to investigators and claimed he did not know what happened to the marijuana.

Defense attorney Sam Stretton argued that there was no direct evidence linking his client to the disappearance of the evidence.

Jurors deliberated for most of the day last Saturday before returning to open court that evening to inform Judge John B. Leete that they were unable to reach a verdict.

D.A. Fink has the option of seeking a new trial on the felony counts.