bloodrayne
01-14-2006, 08:38 AM
Rat Ate Evidence
Police suspect rodents are the culprit
Police suspect rodents at fault
North Port, Florida -- Marijuana, cocaine and narcotics began disappearing from the evidence room, and police say they've found the culprit -- rats.
About a month ago, North Port Police Department evidence and property technician Pamela Schmidt picked up a bag and noticed that it looked like it had been chewed through, said Capt. Robert Estrada.
Estrada said he doesn't know how much damage was done, and it will take a month to go through all the bins.
"There have always been some sightings (of rats) throughout the building, but never before in evidence," he said.
Police found rat droppings inside many evidence bins.
Estrada said some narcotics and marijuana were eaten by the rats, but did not know how much was eaten.
"The also ate away the plastic wrapping holding two beer cans," he said. "The only thing holding the two cans together was the wrapping on the top and bottom of the cans."
He said it looked as if they were eating away at the bags to see what was inside.
Some of the damaged evidence had been set to be destroyed, he said. But evidence for some cases awaiting trial might have been damaged.
Estrada said Schmidt is taking photos of the damage, and is going through each bin, cleaning them and rewrapping the evidence.
Estrada said he doesn't know how this will affect active cases, though the chain of custody has been maintained.
"We will have to contact the State Attorney's Office," he said.
Estrada explained that once the evidence is tested and weighed by the SAO, there should not be any problems. He said he's not sure if any of the damaged evidence has been sent to the SAO.
North Port Animal Control has set traps and caught some of the offenders, Estrada said, adding the last rat anyone saw in the police department was sometime last week.
"We were so close to moving into our new building," Estrada said. "Just three more weeks."
Estrada said the evidence room at the new police station has bins that roll out like those in a bank vault.
"We just want to make sure we do not take any rats with us when we move," Estrada said.
Several years ago, the department had to condemn the holding cells. This is where they stored evidence for years. However, as the department outgrew the building, there was less space to store evidence. Much was placed in recycling bins.
The new police department is expected to open next month along Sumter Boulevard.
Police suspect rodents are the culprit
Police suspect rodents at fault
North Port, Florida -- Marijuana, cocaine and narcotics began disappearing from the evidence room, and police say they've found the culprit -- rats.
About a month ago, North Port Police Department evidence and property technician Pamela Schmidt picked up a bag and noticed that it looked like it had been chewed through, said Capt. Robert Estrada.
Estrada said he doesn't know how much damage was done, and it will take a month to go through all the bins.
"There have always been some sightings (of rats) throughout the building, but never before in evidence," he said.
Police found rat droppings inside many evidence bins.
Estrada said some narcotics and marijuana were eaten by the rats, but did not know how much was eaten.
"The also ate away the plastic wrapping holding two beer cans," he said. "The only thing holding the two cans together was the wrapping on the top and bottom of the cans."
He said it looked as if they were eating away at the bags to see what was inside.
Some of the damaged evidence had been set to be destroyed, he said. But evidence for some cases awaiting trial might have been damaged.
Estrada said Schmidt is taking photos of the damage, and is going through each bin, cleaning them and rewrapping the evidence.
Estrada said he doesn't know how this will affect active cases, though the chain of custody has been maintained.
"We will have to contact the State Attorney's Office," he said.
Estrada explained that once the evidence is tested and weighed by the SAO, there should not be any problems. He said he's not sure if any of the damaged evidence has been sent to the SAO.
North Port Animal Control has set traps and caught some of the offenders, Estrada said, adding the last rat anyone saw in the police department was sometime last week.
"We were so close to moving into our new building," Estrada said. "Just three more weeks."
Estrada said the evidence room at the new police station has bins that roll out like those in a bank vault.
"We just want to make sure we do not take any rats with us when we move," Estrada said.
Several years ago, the department had to condemn the holding cells. This is where they stored evidence for years. However, as the department outgrew the building, there was less space to store evidence. Much was placed in recycling bins.
The new police department is expected to open next month along Sumter Boulevard.