Tioga Sheriff: Drug Raid Was a “Mistake”

Tioga County Sheriff Gary Howard acknowledges a police search of a town of Owego couple's home was a big mistake.

Howard, speaking on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program April 1, said he didn't want to "downplay it at all."

The sheriff noted he's received plenty of comments from local residents and from people across the country who had heard of the case involving Steven and Cindy Dunlap.

The Dunlaps were taken into custody separately by police on the evening of February 11 as investigators prepared to execute search warrants in connection with a suspected meth-making and gun-running operation.

Howard said mistaken searches are "very rare," especially in this area. He said it appeared all of the investigators involved in the events that night followed procedure.

The sheriff said he had not spoken with the Dunlaps about what they had been through.

Howard said after police realized a mistake had been made, there had been some discussion that "somebody's going to have to clean this, you know, mess up."

While many people have suggested the Dunlaps are owed an apology, the sheriff said he'd assumed that was why two investigators visited the couple a week later to answer some of their questions.

The search resulted from an investigation originating with the Broome County Sheriff's Office. The Tioga County agency was involved because the targeted property is just inside the county.

While Howard was being interviewed, Cindy Dunlap called to thank him for making it clear she and her husband were innocent of any wrongdoing.

LISTEN to the interview with Sheriff Howard from Wednesday's Binghamton Now program.

LISTEN to the original interview with Steven and Cindy Dunlap from last Friday's Binghamton Now program.

LISTEN to the interview with Broome County Sheriff David Harder from Monday's Binghamton Now program.