Three years
For three years, NOLA police kept a gun for evidence. They were sued:
Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro’s office and the city must prove why they still need Errol Houston Jr.’s handgun, three years after he last faced a criminal count, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday. The ruling by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, scrapping its earlier opinion in the case, could lead to a change in how prosecutors and police view their right to hold on to seized evidence in criminal cases that are dropped but still could be prosecuted later. “This is really a hugely important victory,” said Marjorie Esman, executive director of ACLU of Louisiana, which represented Houston. “It absolutely changes how the DA’s office is going to have to treat property they retain that they don’t really have any need to retain.”
May 25th, 2012 at 11:07 am
IF / WHEN he finally gets it back, wonder what condition it’s gonna be in? I’m thinkin’ it’s been soaking in a bucket of salt water since the day the charges were dropped.
May 25th, 2012 at 11:12 am
Well lookee there! The ACLU taking a gun case!
May 25th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
They need a few more weeks for some officer to get a hold of his brother in law who he gave it to…..
May 25th, 2012 at 1:05 pm
ACLU of LOUISIANA NOT the ACLU that is national. There obviously is a huge difference.
May 25th, 2012 at 6:11 pm
Agree with the first three comments, they’re probably ALL true…. sigh
May 26th, 2012 at 12:23 am
NOPD stands for Not Our Problem Dude.
May 26th, 2012 at 2:21 pm
Pet peeve: Authority versus rights.
Prosecutors and police have an authority, not a right, to hold evidence. Citizens have rights. State agents have “authority” or delegated powers, based on the decisions of the citizenry. When the police and prosecutors overstep their authority, they are infringing on rights, not exercising them.
May 26th, 2012 at 5:22 pm
Does anyone really believe this controversy is about keeping evidence? It’s really all about the gun, isn’t it? Keeping evidence is just the excuse du jour.
May 27th, 2012 at 12:45 am
Can I get a “Quote Of The Day” . . . week, month, year, decade . . . for Mikee in # 7 ?
May 27th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Brad: Or they don’t have it anymore and won’t admit it.
Some badged criminal probably took it home.
May 28th, 2012 at 5:05 pm
@CarlS,
Done.