Opinion ID: 1595336
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Herbert Wells Police Investigatory Techniques.

Text: ¶ 189. The majority finds that the trial court did not err by excluding the testimony of Herbert Wells with regard to the police investigatory techniques. [10] I agree. The majority finds that Wells' proffered testimony on police investigatory techniques failed to establish the reliability of his testimony pursuant to Daubert and McLemore. I find, in the alternative, that a review of the record reveals in this case that testimony concerning police investigative techniques was placed before the jury by other witnesses, which gives Ross' argument less credence and absolutely demonstrates that Ross was not prejudiced by the exclusion of Wells' proffered testimony. ¶ 190. The record reveals that Ross never attempted to admit Wells' report into evidence. Furthermore, the record reveals that all of Wells' proffered testimony, and more, was presented to the jury through other witnesses. In his proffered testimony, Wells testified generally about the police techniques. In his prior experience, Wells had been responsible for control and analysis of a number of crime scenes. Wells testified that too many non-law enforcement personnel were present at the crime scene without a lawful purpose. In addition, Wells stated that the evidence could have been either accidentally or intentionally disturbed by the large number of non-law enforcement personnel present at the scene. According to documents reviewed by Wells, Ross' fingerprints were the only prints submitted for comparison results. However, Wells stated that there were no comparison or results for any of the latent finger prints submitted. In his experience as a law enforcement officer, Wells testified that fingerprints for each individual involved would be submitted for comparison. Further, Wells stated that he would not arrest someone based upon a tip provided by person with unknown credibility. Wells stated that prior to making an arrest, he would investigate the background of a witness who provided information to him. ¶ 191. The State objected to Wells' testimony and expert report based on discovery violations of U.R.C.C.C.P. Rule 4.04(a) and Rule 9.04(c)(3). The trial court excluded Wells' testimony on police techniques and stated: Do you intend to offer the testimony? Court had asked you to make this offer out of the presence of the jury, because Court had told you here at the bench I'm not going to let this witness testify concerning an expert opinion on the investigation, the technique, the procedure, this type thing, of this investigation; so that's all out. The record reveals that Ross' defense counsel admirably placed the issue of problematic police techniques before the jury. Ross' counsel cross-examined a number of law enforcement personnel and presented the jury with the same concerns that were set forth in Wells' proffered testimony. Chief of Police Wilbanks, formerly Chief Deputy Wilbanks, testified that a number of people were present at the scene. The police requested the crime lab to test for latent fingerprints on the television, gun, front door of Yancey's house, and various other items in Yancey's home. Officer Wilbanks stated that the crime lab results showed that none of Ross' fingerprints were positively identified on any of these items. Officer Wilbanks also testified that no fingerprints of Donald Ross, Jr.; Jerry Sanders; Margaret Jones; and Tommy Hale were sent to the crime lab for a comparison. ¶ 192. Officer Wilbanks collected evidence in Yancey's home. He acknowledged that he had training to not disturb evidence as it is being collected and did not collect any items with his bare hands. Officer Wilbanks stated that he did not take a skin sample from Ross to determine if he had fired a gun within a week of his arrest. Officer Wilbanks also stated that he did not take Margaret Jones' or Tommy Hale's statement, that he did not know these witnesses, and that he did not perform a criminal record search on them. ¶ 193. Gary Mauney, then Police Chief of Tippah County, testified that information provided by witnesses has to be checked out. Officer Mauney stated that the police sometimes have been given false information. Joseph Kellum, a crime lab forensic scientist, stated that he complied with standard operating procedures. ¶ 194. Clearly, defense counsel questioned other witnesses about police investigation techniques. The testimony of Officers Wilbanks and Mauney covered all of the issues that Wells raised in his proffered testimony. Therefore, the jury had an opportunity to hear testimony about police techniques, and there is no error.