Greg Byrd was taken into custody on Thursday around 3 p.m. at his residence, and booked into the Yuma County jail on charges

Greg Byrd was taken into custody on Thursday around 3 p.m. at his residence, and booked into the Yuma County jail on charges of tampering with physical evidence, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, possession of dangerous drugs and misconduct with weapons.Byrd, who had been a criminal prosecutor with the county attorney's office since 2004, was being held at the jail pending his initial appearance in Yuma County Justice Court on Friday afternoon.
Before joining the county attorney's office, Byrd worked with the Yuma County Legal Defender's Office.Byrd, who has multiple sclerosis, was on medical leave from the county attorney's office at the time of his arrest.Capt. Eben Bratcher of the Yuma County Sheriff's Office said his office received information last week about Byrd's alleged drug use and launched an investigation, which culminated in Thursday's arrest."We worked closely with the Yuma County Attorney's Office and appreciate their support and cooperation," Bratcher said.Yuma County Attorney Jon Smith said he could not comment on the circumstances of the case, but added he terminated Byrd after his arrest."Based upon evidence provided to my office it appeared that Mr. Byrd was allegedly engaging in conduct that, although was outside the scope of his duties within this office, they were nonetheless inconsistent with the ongoing duties of a prosecutor," Smith said. "I could not allow that type of conduct, alleged or otherwise, to compromise the integrity of this office and the justice system."Smith went on to say that to avoid any appearance of impropriety or a conflict of interest, the Yavapai County Attorney's Office will be prosecuting the case."He was a prosecutor for my office so I obviously can't prosecute him," Smith said.Bratcher added that Byrd. just as any other inmate would, will be placed in an intake unit and isolated from other inmates for at least the first 48 hours.
"If it turns out to be a longer-term custody issue then we will look at the matter," Bratcher stated.

Posted in: Yuma County Attorney's Office