Four Harris County Assistant DA's Subpoenaed in BAT Van Investigation
Houston, Texas
A secret grand jury investigation has been underway, examining how the Houston Police Department and the Harris County District Attorney handled potentially bad DWI evidence in connection with the use of HPD BAT vans. These are mobile units used for breathalyzer tests. Well, it looks like that investigation is moving closer to the Harris County DA’s Office.
On Tuesday morning, local television station KTRK exclusively confirmed a Harris County Grand Jury subpoenaed four Assistant District Attorneys as part of its ongoing investigation into the HPD BAT van issues. The four are all prosecutors who handled DWI cases since the BAT vans were used.
While the grand jury proceedings are secret, legal analyst Joel Androphy says it is clear to him grand jurors are trying to figure out when the DA's Office knew about BAT van maintenance issues and what they did with the information.
In a very rare move, this grand jury is conducting its own investigation without the assistance of the District Attorney. Two Assistant DA’s were tossed out of a grand jury room last week under the threat of arrest.
According to KTRK, a special independent prosecutor will be named to the Grand Jury investigation. This could be seen as a blow to the public trust in the DA's Office. It comes hours after the four prosecutors were subpoenaed to appear before the grand jury. The target of the investigation is still secret, but it's becoming clear jurors are at least looking into what the DA's Office knew about potential bad DWI evidence and if they covered it up.
A secret grand jury investigation has been underway, examining how the Houston Police Department and the Harris County District Attorney handled potentially bad DWI evidence in connection with the use of HPD BAT vans. These are mobile units used for breathalyzer tests. Well, it looks like that investigation is moving closer to the Harris County DA’s Office.
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| Harris County DA Pat Lykos |
While the grand jury proceedings are secret, legal analyst Joel Androphy says it is clear to him grand jurors are trying to figure out when the DA's Office knew about BAT van maintenance issues and what they did with the information.
In a very rare move, this grand jury is conducting its own investigation without the assistance of the District Attorney. Two Assistant DA’s were tossed out of a grand jury room last week under the threat of arrest.
According to KTRK, a special independent prosecutor will be named to the Grand Jury investigation. This could be seen as a blow to the public trust in the DA's Office. It comes hours after the four prosecutors were subpoenaed to appear before the grand jury. The target of the investigation is still secret, but it's becoming clear jurors are at least looking into what the DA's Office knew about potential bad DWI evidence and if they covered it up.
1 comment:
FBI Lab Supervisor Fredrick Whitehurst testified at the 1994 case against OJ Simpson and he exposed the world to at the very least sloppy work for all labs.
However for the most part we are a
Law and Order society.
The public generally thinks a person in Police custody is guilty and those with a badge would never violate their oath. Sadly this is never the whole truth and nothing but.....
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