The NYPD’s Auto Crimes Division and
Technical Assistance Response Unit announced that they lost two surveillance
videos, which were the only two available, and apparently failed even to record
two other meetings between undercover cops and suspects, according to criminal
court proceedings in a Manhattan high profile motorcycle theft ring case.
The missing evidence comes as a second
embarrassment to NYPD after they announced last year when arrests were made
that seven high performance bikes that they had seized in the 17 month sting
joint investigation with NYPD and the Manhattan D.A’s were stolen from a poorly
secured police lot in the Bronx. At least 10 guns and 50 expensive
motorcycles were part of the investigation conducted by the NYPD and the
Manhattan D.A.’s office into gun trafficking, theft and resale of 63 bikes valued at
approximately $500,000. A
total of 33 persons were arrested across five boroughs last year related to the stolen bikes and gun
sales. Sources said that some of the stolen bikes were sold overseas.
Defense attorneys for the
four defendants, who have recently gone to trial in the high profile motorcycle
theft ring case in Manhattan, sought dismissals or exclusions of testimony and
evidence on behalf of their clients. Defense attorney, Andrew Miller, who represents Damian Jones,
argued that “you can’t get more blatantly careless” with evidence than the NYPD
was in this case. Attorney Joseph Heinzmann, who represents accused ringleader
Steve (Jersey Dred) Dow argued in a letter to the court that “The evidence
destroyed here is highly relevant.” The other two defendants are Omar Thomas
and Truman Francis. Manhattan Supreme Court Justice March Kahn ruled
instead that she will instruct jurors that they can discredit testimony that is
based upon absent evidence. All four defendants face up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
NYC Criminal Defense Attorney
Facing
gun trafficking, theft and other felony charges in New York are serious. When
police lose evidence, it can be harmful to defendants making it harder for
people who have been unjustly accused to prove their innocence. That is why it
is important to hire a good NYC criminal defense attorney to help you fight
your charges using strong defenses. Our team of knowledgeable New York criminal defense
lawyers will be able to investigate all the evidence against you to make sure
that you receive a fair and just trial and that your rights are being fully
protected.
