ASHEVILLE, NC (WSPA) – The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation said a former Biltmore Forest police chief has been arrested following an investigation into the possible unauthorized sale of firearms.
According to the NC SBI, District Attorney Todd Williams and current Biltmore Forest Police Chief T.J. Bates requested that they investigate the “possible unauthorized sales of firearms that were evidence in disposed criminal cases worked by the Biltmore Forest Police Department.”
The sales were reportedly committed by former Biltmore Forest Police Chief J. Eric Tinsley.
According to the release, the investigation revealed that Tinsley refused to turn over the firearms to the rightful owners after the criminal cases had been disposed in court.
Tinsley also reportedly didn’t obtain the proper court authorization needed to dispose of them.
“Instead Chief Tinsley sold the firearms to an FFL (Federal Firearms Licensee) for less than the retail values,” according to the release. “The credit for the traded firearms was subsequently credited to the Biltmore Police Department and Chief Tinsley then personally purchased the firearms for a price slightly above the traded in prices.”
Warrants were obtained on July 20, charging Tinsley with two counts of willfully failing to discharge duties.
Tinsley reportedly turned himself into authorities after learning of the warrants.
