MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) - A Rutherford County grand jury indicted a Murfreesboro Police Department (MPD) detective on Monday (August 4th), following a multi-agency state investigation into missing drug funds and unauthorized database access.
Grand jurors indicted Detective Reginal Primas on 17 total counts, including one count of theft, one count of forgery, two counts of falsifying a government document, and 13 counts of official misconduct. Law enforcement officers booked the veteran detective into the Rutherford County Jail on a $25,000 bond.
KEY POINTS
•Grand Jury Indictment: A Rutherford County grand jury indicted Murfreesboro Police Department Detective Reginal D. Primas on August 4th, 2026, following a state investigation.
•Seventeen Criminal Counts: Primas faces 17 total charges, including 13 counts of official misconduct, two counts of falsifying a government document, one count of theft, and one count of forgery.
•Financial Misuse Alleged: Investigators found Primas used confidential department funds for personal purchases and accessed the Criminal Justice Portal for unauthorized reasons.
•Termination Recommended: Police Chief Michael Bowen recommended Primas for termination to City Manager Darren Gore, and officers booked Primas into the Rutherford County Jail on a $25,000 bond.
The state investigation began after police officials conducted an internal audit on January 7th, 2026, that revealed financial discrepancies involving department drug funds. Department leadership immediately contacted 16th Judicial District Attorney General Jennings Jones, who requested special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to lead an independent inquiry alongside the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury.
Investigators determined that Primas used department confidential funds to make personal purchases, falsified a government document, and accessed the Criminal Justice Portal for purposes unrelated to his official law enforcement duties.
On January 7th, 2026, the same day as the audit, department leadership internally decommissioned Primas and placed him on administrative leave with pay. Chief Michael Bowen sent a formal recommendation for termination to City Manager Darren Gore. Primas is a 16-year veteran with the department who served in the Criminal Investigations Division Special Investigation Section.
Because the TBI and the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury led the independent investigation, local police officials requested that all public inquiries be directed to the TBI or the State Comptroller.
DISCLAIMER: The charges and allegations referenced in this story are merely accusations of criminal conduct and not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.
STATEMENT FROM MURFREESBORO POLICE DEPARTMENT
On January 7, 2026, the Murfreesboro Police Department (MPD) conducted an internal audit that revealed financial discrepancies with drug funds. The department immediately contacted District Attorney General Jennings Jones, who requested the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to investigate. The Tennessee Comptroller of Treasury was also notified by MPD. On the same day as the audit, Detective Reginal Primas was decommissioned internally and placed on administrative leave with pay.
Primas is a 16-year veteran with the department and was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division Special Investigation Section.
Since this is an independent investigation being conducted by other agencies, we ask that all questions be forwarded to the TBI or the State Comptroller.
Chief Michael Bowen has sent a recommendation for termination to City Manager Darren Gore.
Murfreesboro Police Department
