Opinion ID: 1952139
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Scent Tracking Evidence

Text: [¶ 8] Cole challenges the trial court's decision to admit the evidence of human scent tracking performed by the state police canine team, Trooper Timothy McCadden and his dog Zak, at the scene of the rape. McCadden testified to his conclusion that Zak tracked Cole's scent from where the rapist entered the victim's house back to Cole's house. By way of foundation, McCadden testified that he and Zak had been together as a team since April 1992 and had received training together, including tracking training, at a sixteen-week Maine State Police K-9 school. They received two days of in-service training per month and underwent a recertification every six months, which included a performance test that evaluated the team's tracking ability. McCadden also testified that prior to the tracking performed at the scene of the rape, he and Zak had successfully tracked people both in actual cases and in training exercises. [¶ 9] The trial court did not abuse its discretion by admitting in evidence McCadden's testimony. See State v. Case, 672 A.2d 586, 588 (Me.1996) (decision to admit or exclude evidence is reviewed for abuse of discretion). The law of a majority of states is that evidence of dog tracking is admissible to prove identity provided a proper foundation is laid. See Annotation, Evidence of Trailing By Dogs in Criminal Cases, 18 A.L.R.3d 1221 (1968 & Supp.1996). In this case McCadden testified that he and Zak had received extensive training together in tracking human scent, that Zak had previously successfully tracked humans, and that Zak had been placed on the trail where circumstances indicated the perpetrator had recently been. This foundation was sufficient to permit McCadden's testimony.