FDLE clears St. Augustine Beach police chief

Richard Hedgesresigns during investigation

Chief Richard Hedges

ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH, Fla. – An state investigation of retired St. Augustine Beach Police Chief Richard Hedges has found no criminal wrongdoing.

While the Florida Department of Law Enforcement released its findings last week clearing Hedges and other officers involved, interim police chief and St. Johns County Sheriff's Office Cmdr. David Messenger is reviewing the results of a separate internal investigation by the SJCSO.

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Messenger said the internal investigation could also determine if there would be any charges against the officers who make 14 allegations against Hedges based on their use of department computers to obtain information that should not have been released to the public.

The FDLE only investigated four of the allegation that could have been criminal violations: missing firearms, a missing mountain bike and a missing motorcycle. Its investigation found the complains were administrative in nature and not criminal.

DOCUMENT: FDLE summery of investigation into Chief Hedges

Hedges retired last month after nine years as chief of the department and 38 years in law enforcement.

Hedges' attorney Patrick Canan told Channel 4, "It's about time Hedges got his name cleared." He went on to call the allegations made against his client "bogus" and "baseless."

The St. Augustine Beach Commission is expected to discuss the future of its police department during its next meeting on July 16.