The Houston Police Department and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office this week announced changes to how evidence in criminal cases is stored and handled after an infestation of rodents caused problems.
Police Chief Noè Diaz announced at a news conference that in October HPD noticed rats smoking old marijuana in the evidence property room.
“400,000 pounds of marijuana and storage rooms that only rats are enjoying,” said Houston Mayor John Whitmire.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire walks through the Houston Police Department evidence room. (Houston Police Department)
“Think about it, they’re drug-addicted rats. They’re very difficult to deal with,” said Peter Stout, CEO of the Forensic Science Center in Houston.
The overall problem, Whitmire said, is that there is too much evidence being stored that is no longer needed.
“The problem is that so much evidence is being withheld and stored that it is no longer needed; it has no impact on resolving charges, convictions, or even exonerations,” he told a news conference.
He went on to announce that they would work with the District Attorney to ensure that evidence is properly disposed of and that there will be space for important property if it is no longer needed.
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Police Chief Noè Diaz announced at a news conference that in October HPD noticed rats smoking old marijuana in the evidence property room. (Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
HPD said 1.2 million pieces of evidence are currently stored but are no longer relevant.
Previously, evidence from long-ago cases, such as sticks, tennis rackets, bicycles and even rocks, was sometimes kept for decades.
They say a combination of communication and law is a major source of impediment to the timely destruction of evidence.
They also said it allowed rats and mold to accumulate in evidence cabinets, risking contamination of new evidence.
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A Houston police car with a police department badge. (Houston Police Department)
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“Now that this has come to light, I think you’re going to see the defense raise a lot of questions about the integrity of the evidence used against the people they represent,” said Houston criminal defense attorney Anthony Osso. be opposed to. “
All drug evidence obtained before 2015 will be removed and destroyed in cooperation with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and the Houston Forensic Science Center.
Evidence records will be retained indefinitely.
