Opinion ID: 2227408
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: Admitting the Cocaine

Text: Appellant objected to admission of Exhibits One and Two, the cocaine Reynolds allegedly purchased from Kolb, claiming that the chain of custody was inadequate. While the State must establish the chain of possession it need only demonstrate a reasonable assurance that the evidence passed to trial in an undisturbed condition. Hensley v. State (1986), Ind., 489 N.E.2d 62. The State is not required to exclude every possibility of tampering. Id. Where drugs are in the continuous custody of the police, we will not engage in speculation about untoward activity. Jeffers v. State (1985), Ind., 485 N.E.2d 81. Immediately after the completion of each controlled by, the police confiscated the cocaine purchased by Reynolds. The cocaine was in continuous police custody until being brought to the Indiana State Police Laboratory for examination. Meticulous procedures were followed in labeling and packaging the two exhibits. The officers that handled the evidence identified the exhibits produced at trial as the same evidence that was recovered from Reynolds after the drug buys. They also testified that the exhibits were in the same condition as they were in when that officer dropped them off at the police laboratory. A drug chemist with the Indiana State Police Laboratory who tested Exhibits One and Two testified that it is standard procedure for evidence to remain in the drug vault until he is ready to examine it. He indicated that Exhibit One was received by the evidence custodian on August 21, 1986, at 2:50 p.m. and that Exhibit Two was received on November 12, 1986, at 1:08 p.m. He had these exhibits removed from the drug vault on August 25, 1986, and November 13, 1986, respectively. Both exhibits were returned to the vault later the same day after he finished conducting his tests. Appellant argues that there is a gap in the chain of custody because the drugs were left with an unidentified evidence technician at the laboratory. The fact that the evidence technician's name is not known and the technician did not testify does not amount to a gap in the chain of custody. The evidence presented at trial showed that the cocaine was in continuous police possession. There has been no allegation of tampering, substitution, or mistake. The chain of custody was sufficient and the exhibits were properly admitted.