Robotic DNA testing
Helps law enforcement agencies get results back sooner.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
(Richfield)- Robotic DNA testing at the state's crime lab has hit its first year anniversary with strong results. Attorney General Richard Cordray tells Newsradio WTAM 1100 from October 2009 through August 2010, 122 out of 218 blood samples tested at the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI) in Richfield got a hit. So about 56% of the time, results pointed to a specific suspect.
Using robotics allows BCI to improve turn around time usually getting results back from blood samples in 30 days. This has allowed law enforcement agencies to submit evidence in property crimes which used to be a low priority says Cordray.
Here's one of the robotic machines.
In Cleveland, this type of technology was used in the break in of 10 vehicles at a used car lot that happened the day after Christmas 2009. Police Sgt. Sammy Morris says there was a blood sample left in one of the vehicles that they gathered, sent to BCI and that eventually led to the suspect being arrested.
A felonious assault case in Rocky River would not have been solved if it weren't for testing. Sgt. Carl Gulas says a resident was hit in the head with a 25 pound barbell by a female in May. The victim suffered severe brain injuries.
At the crime scene they found a trail of blood down Wooster Rd. near the victim's apartment. "We submitted it to BCI and they were able to process it using their new robotic DNA testing procedures. That gave us a hit to a female who had an extensive arrest record for crimes of violence, drugs, prostitution and theft."
Yashea Black-Hunter has a pre-trial set for Thursday.
The U.S. Department of Justice has given a $831,000 grant to allow BCI to add four more robots by next July. The robots will have new programming so DNA testing can be done on sexual assault cases.
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