Opinion ID: 2544552
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Testimony regarding chain of custody and content of evidence found at Fil-Am Video and on Diaz

Text: The prosecution questioned HPD Officer Shirley Brown regarding the weight and contents of several baggies containing crystal methamphetamine. Officer Brown testified as to the chain of custody for baggies identified as exhibits 28, 29, 30, and 31. Each piece of evidence was found at the Fil-Am Video store in the possession of Diaz. The combined weight of these exhibits was 4.92 grams. HPD Officer Akina testified as to the chain of custody for exhibit number 4, which was discovered on Diaz during a search of her person and an inventory search at the police station. The search of Diaz's person was delayed until a female officer was present to complete the search. Officer Akina made a written report indicating what was found during the search, but testified that the hard copy of the report was lost and it was not standard operating procedure to make backups on the computers. Defense counsel objected to this testimony, arguing that the defense had a right to the police report and that if police reports or discovery is destroyed or lost for whatever reason, then this Court can strike the testimony. Defense counsel further argued that since Diaz was searched at the scene and the baggie was not found, and then searched again at the police station and the baggie was then found, the veracity of the officer's testimony was legitimately in question. The prosecution stated that there were no female officers at the scene, and, therefore the search at the police station was more thorough. The court admitted the testimony and requested that the prosecution ask Officer Akina to search for the report. Officer Brown testified as to the weight and content of exhibit number 4. The weight of exhibit number 4 was .263 grams and the combined weight of all of the exhibits was 5.189 grams.