A former Hanahan police detective has been arrested after admitting to stealing evidence from the department on several occasions, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Carlos Reyna Hernandez, 31, faces misconduct in office charges after an investigation revealed he took multiple items, including tools, from the Hanahan Police Department.
The Theft and Investigation
Hernandez, who was serving as a detective sergeant during the thefts, stole items on four separate occasions in 2025, specifically on May 25, May 30, June 13, and June 19, as detailed in a sworn affidavit. The thefts were confirmed through surveillance footage from the department’s evidence room and Hernandez’s admission of guilt.
On one occasion, Hernandez confessed that he had used the stolen tools to build a deck at his residence, further detailing the misuse of department property for personal gain.
Stolen Evidence Found at Hernandez’s Home
In addition to the stolen tools, investigators from the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office discovered a box containing multiple pieces of evidence from various criminal cases that should have been in the department’s custody. Hernandez admitted that this evidence had never been processed or properly handled by the Hanahan Police Department.
Arrest and Charges
Hernandez was booked into the Hill-Finklea Detention Center in Berkeley County after the investigation, and he is now facing criminal charges for his actions. The theft of police department property and mishandling of evidence has raised serious concerns about Hernandez’s conduct while in office.
