DNA Black originally uploaded by Spanish Flea
According to this Dakota County Criminal Complaint, the Farmington Police Department pulled off a little CSI action and took DNA samples from blood at the scene of a theft to get their man:
Victim reported that he also observed two cigarette butts on his driveway, making note that no one usually smokes at his residence. Police also observed some blood spots on the driver’s side front door, along with more blood on the shattered glass that was now inside the vehicle on the floorboard. Police collected two samples of the blood which was sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (hereinafter referred to as BCA) for analysis.
Farmington police later received a report from the BCA indicating that the blood samples were searched through the Minnesota convicted offender DNA database and matched the DNA profile obtained from Anthony Richard Reichstadt. With this additional evidence, Farmington police created and executed a search warrant for saliva samples for the DNA profile from Reichstadt.
It’s well known that prosecutors are not pleased with the effect that CSI (and shows like it) have had on jury pools. In one study of Michigan jurors, 22% of respondents noted that they expected to see DNA evidence in every criminal case and 59% believed that there should be fingerprint evidence in any theft case. One anecdote passed along in the article about the study noted, “I once heard a juror complain that the prosecution had not done a thorough job because ‘they didn’t even dust the lawn for fingerprints.’”
In this particular case the estimated loss was mentioned to be $4,800. Do you believe that it was a good use of taxpayer dollars to collect the DNA evidence, process it, and then collect more DNA to catch the criminal when the likelihood of recovering that money or property is slim to none? Do you think that the “CSI Effect” had anything to do with the Farmington PD collecting the evidence in this manner? Whatever you have to say about the “CSI Effect” and how it has changed even local law enforcement for tiny little towns go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Related posts:
Dakota Complaints Map
Dakota Inmate Dashboard
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June 30th, 2010 at 7:39 am
Personally, Put the damn criminals behind bars. use dogs, DNA, guns, bait.. whatever. While I’ve never had a crime against me, you can be damn sure that if I ever do, I will be relentless about utilizing every outlet available to ensure the criminal is caught, tried, and thrown to the wolves – Literally – We could save so much money by just throwing repeat offenders to a pack of wolves, or maybe evil sea bass or something..
My guess is that if something happened to your family, you’d be of the same opinion, or you your google-sense to locate them, rent a Sherman tank, and drive thru their upstairs bedroom at 2am.. :)
June 30th, 2010 at 7:39 am
How much is a DNA test? Seems like it would be cheaper to just collect and catalouge everyone in the United States, that way the data is always on file.
June 30th, 2010 at 8:38 am
A couple years ago I forgot to lock my SUV in the driveway and had a GPS and satellite radio stolen. Called the cops out just to report it not expecting much to be done. But I have to say I was disappointed when they didn’t dust for prints!
June 30th, 2010 at 8:40 am
Better yet, we need those pre-cogs from that movie Minority Report, so that we can bust people before they even know they’ll commit a crime.
In all seriousness…as long as acceptable standards of evidence can be met without using these, then yes, they’re not necessary in all situations and shouldn’t be used.
June 30th, 2010 at 8:41 am
Good one Sank.
I actually think this is fantastic. With all the money we are forced to invest in the police department, it’s nice to see them actively investigate a case that involves real criminals who have harmed people and/or their property. I get a little tired of the police frequently trying to lock up or fine harmless people.
June 30th, 2010 at 9:11 am
I think its great. Of course they did not know it before, but the fact is the guy was already in the database. He is a repeat offender and this allowed them to catch him, in a case that would have otherwise gone no place fast.
June 30th, 2010 at 10:16 am
I can’t help but think, “OF COURSE they spent a lot of money for a small outcome.” It’s Farmington we’re talking about…
All cynicism aside, I would like to know how much the test and help of the BCA cost. If the cost is fairly negligible, then I think the police should do what is necessary to enforce the law.
Tracy
June 30th, 2010 at 10:20 am
Given that the state only has one lab and the results can take months due to the back up at the lab, I would like to see this technology prioritized, but if there is extra time at the lab, that is part of the duty of the police. I don’t see it as a waste of taxpayer dollars at all.
Good police work caught the correct criminal. That is what they are paid for. I bet the victim of the crime is satisfied with the job, to me that is all that really matters.
June 30th, 2010 at 11:21 am
I think this is great. Sure, you’re not going to recoup your losses for this one crime. But you may be able to prevent this idiot from committing other crimes. That alone is worth it.
I read a story a few months ago about a Minneapolis guy whose wife’s purse was stolen. Rather than report it to the MPD, which he knew was pointless, he tracked it down using an app on the phone that allowed him to locate its position with the GPS. He was able to recover the phone himself. The police said he was stupid for taking the law into his own hands, but there are a lot of people with experiences like Andrew’s where the police don’t do anything because of the low monetary value of what’s stolen.
The monetary value is hardly the most important piece of information. People need to feel secure and when something of any value is stolen, you feel violated, especially something as personal as a purse, cell phone, etc.
June 30th, 2010 at 11:38 am
Everyone knows that DNA evidence is far easier to plant than anything else. Are you concerned, as the public decreases its privacy guard in the name of the ‘but I didn’t do anything so I have nothing to hide’ mantra and databases such as those collected, unknowingly, from newborns that those able to confuse the police and have fingers pointed at the wrong person will increase?
July 1st, 2010 at 12:06 pm
My place was broken into a couple years ago, the police didn’t even go over near the broken window/unscrewed and kicked in security bars. He stood in the kitchen and wrote up the report.
And, if things are stolen from you in Minneapolis without someone entering your home, like your grill, bike, lawn furniture, stuff from your car, they won’t even come out. You fill out the report online. Even if you think it is retaliation.
July 1st, 2010 at 3:42 pm
I believe that the police acted in good faith, in particular collecting blood samples from the broken glass. If they were blood samples from outside on the sidewalk along the street, that would be more dubious. I believe the BCA has a machine that does this stuff, and as like any machine if you don’t use it, why did you buy it. Thus that they use it, I’m satisfied.
That said, I hope they have more to go on than just DNA evidence. As Bill said, it is easy to plant that stuff. If someone wants to commit a crime, and the are smart about it, it’s easy to pin it on someone else if you just drop a few hairs or blood from someone that isn’t you. Talk about mis-direction.
If anything this shows the ?benefit? of the manditory DNA sample collecting allowed by Minnesota State Law. If you are convicted of a Felony, or have been in the past, they can force you to submit a DNA sample. (Force may be too strong, how about strongly suggest… your lawyer may be able to avoid the forcing part?) Considering that criminals tend to continue committing crimes, I guess it makes some sense.
March 26th, 2011 at 10:01 pm
curious where the evidence is that he was the one responsable for stealing almost $5000 worth of things he had in his vehicle. yeah blood on the shattered glass; so he broke the window?? and what dumb ass leaves “$5000″ worth of shit in their truck anyways??
June 23rd, 2011 at 7:01 am
[...] beer from a refrigerator in her garage. Fingerprints were lifted from the scene.About a year ago a Farmington criminal was apprehended following DNA samples being taken from blood evidence left at …. The general consensus appeared to be that the testing was a justifiable expense due to the high [...]