Here's the new crime fighting team.
Posted on 05/06/2003 7:24:55 AM PDT by Andy from Beaverton
| Otterpop leads cops to suspect
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| DNA evidence left at two crime scenes two years ago leads to burglary charges 05/01/03 TIGARD — Catching a careless crook through DNA evidence is not just for television series like “CSI: Crime Scene Investigators” and “CSI: Miami.” The Tigard Police Department recently nailed a suspected crook thanks to DNA samples that he conveniently left behind at the scene of two burglaries. The case began Dec. 31, 2000, when police received a report of a burglary at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. Someone had entered the church office, tried to open the safe and did a considerable amount of damage, according to Jim Wolf, Tigard Police public information officer. “Officers went to the scene to look for evidence,” Wolf said. “They collected many pieces, including an Otterpop, which is a juice drink. The evidence was sent to the Oregon State Police forensics lab for DNA analysis. “At the time, we had a person of interest, but he turned out not to be connected with the burglary.” About two weeks later, in mid-January 2001, there were a series of burglaries in the strip mall on Pacific Highway just north of Gaarde Street, and police seized a sweatshirt that did not appear to be connected to any of the businesses and sent it off the forensics lab. “We had information at some point that there was someone in the criminal justice system who had been arrested by another agency who might be connected with the case,” Wolf said. “They had obtained DNA on this man, but it was not admissible as evidence.” At the time, DNA could only be used as evidence in certain felony crimes, and because of the man’s constitutional rights, Tigard Police could not be told the name of the man with the DNA match. “OSP said they had a match,” Wolf said. “The DNA on the Otterpop and the sweatshirt matched a person in the system.” About a year later, however, Oregon law was changed to allow DNA evidence to be used in a broader spectrum of crimes. “We got a phone call saying that they could tell us who the person was,” Wolf said. “He was already incarcerated in the Snake River Correctional Institution in Ontario. We did a confirmation DNA test, and it matched the Otterpop and the sweatshirt. “We submitted the evidence to the Washington County Grand Jury, which indicted him in March.” The man accused of burglarizing St. Anthony’s and the Pacific Highway businesses is Todd Allen Cole, 38, who now has 15 charges against him, including burglary, theft and criminal mischief. “He’s still in Ontario,” Wolf said. “I don’t know how this will play into the present situation. But DNA solved the case.” |
Here's the new crime fighting team.
There otter be a law.
(I just got your note. Here's hoping all goes well tomorrow).
I had no idea your dad was even missing..... ;-)
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