WSNIA - The Educator

INFORMATION ♦ EDUCATION ♦ ENFORCEMENT

THE EDUCATOR - Fall 1998

Forensic Processing in a Clandestine Environment

by Steven Wilkens, Pierce County Sheriffs Department

The processing of a marijuana grow operation or a methamphetamine lab require special techniques to collect the needed evidence for a successful prosecution. I hope to share with you through this article some of the techniques I use that have made the cases I have worked successful.

Photography

I cannot over-emphasize enough that a complete videograph be done of the scene prior to any processing for the warrant. The same goes for the initial still photo graphs. These items show how the house or vehicle was at the time you first saw it. Many times items show up in these mediums that will assist in the prosecution of your suspects.

Let me give you an example. A local jurisdiction pulls over a car and identifies the occupants. From previous dealings with these individuals, the officers knew that they were involved in the manufacture of methamphetamine. The male suspect was driving. The female suspect was the passenger. On top of a plastic storage box (a boxed lab) on the back seat of the vehicle behind the passenger seat was a copy of dear old Uncle Fester’s “Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture.” Both suspects were arrested and charged with manufacturing of methamphetamine.

The male suspect was on parole and a contract so he went bye-bye real quick. Now came the trial for the female suspect. One of the damning pieces of evidence (be sides the fact that I recovered her finger prints on the lab evidence) was that book of Uncle Fester’s. She claimed she had no knowledge of anything in the vehicle being related to the manufacture of methamphetamine. This is just one piece of the puzzle, but here is how it fits in the case. The arresting officers saw the book in plain sight on top of the plastic storage box. This was used in the information for the warrant. At the time the warrant was executed, several days later in an impound lot, the videograph and still photographs show the location of the book in the vehicle. All of this weaves together for the conviction.

OK, now you have the videograph and the initial still photographs, what’s next? What I have done for the last year is walking through the scene and numbering the items of interest related to the warrant. The numbers I use are those plastic numbers that stand on their own. This becomes very important in marijuana grow operations as well as meth labs. The item gets a number, it is then videographed and still photographed again with the number in place, and then this number becomes its evidence number on your property report.

So you say, “this is a lot of work.” It is, but it becomes very important when you are on the witness stand and you had processed 20 light shields or 30 mason jars and you need to tell a jury which one had the bad guy’s fingerprints on it. Complicate it one more step. You collected samples from the 30 mason jars. Now you need a very visual aid to keep the item, the latent fingerprints, and the samples linked together all the way to the trial. If you have followed these guidelines, you have a pictorial account of these items.

To make it seem even more time consuming, you need to take a still photograph of the item, the number, and any evidence you collect from that item no matter whether it is the latent fingerprints and/or samples of the contents.

Latent fingerprints

Now to my specialty: latent fingerprints. I just love to develop latent fingerprints at the scene. Especially marijuana grow operations and meth labs because 90 percent of the time you have the names of the suspects before you leave the scene. Processing for latent fingerprints is very easy. There are just a few guidelines to follow to be very successful.

The first guideline is not to be shy with the black powder. Yes, the black powder enables you to see the latent fingerprints, but you have to view the black powder as a development agent. The more powder, the more latent fingerprints. I get a good amount of powder on my brush and lightly brush the whole surface. I then inspect the item for any visible prints. If there are some visible prints I will get more powder on my brush and powder the visible latent finger prints. This process is usually sufficient to get the latent fingerprint defined enough to now lift it off of the item and press it onto the latent print lift card.

Some - times you will come across a la tent finger print that looks like it is greasy or dirty. You lift it but the latent fingerprint does not look real good. You look back at the item and you can see the latent fingerprint seems to look clearer. I will then powder that latent fingerprint again and lift it again. It is very important that you label the first lift and the second lift as such. Sometimes I can make a positive identification off of the dirty one and then spend the time on the second and write them up in my fingerprint report as separate latent fingerprints when they are the same: a defense attorney nightmare.

The light shields and the halide bulbs used in marijuana grow operations pose a special challenge when processing for latent prints. Usually the warrant is being executed while these items are muse. They are very hot when in operation and the latent prints on them are very difficult to get. Latent fingerprints are approximately 97 percent water. Under these conditions the water is gone. You will be very unsuccessful if you process these items right when they are turned off. However, the amino acids that are left behind are engineered to draw moisture back into the latent print when it be comes available. I usually ask the guys to cut the shields with the light bulbs left in and place them outside if it is not raining or near an open door if it is, so they can cool down and collect moisture back into the latent prints. I have also noticed that these hard-to-get latent prints will develop well after cooling, powdering for latent prints, breathing on the item, and then powdering again.

In meth labs there is a moisture problem that is inherent with the anhydrous ammonia labs and with labs with active HCL generators. These gasses are drawing and seeking out any available moisture in the air and once it comes into contact with that moisture the gas will condense on whatever is in the area. This causes the mason jars and the metal cans to have a wet film. This is a complete waste department when it comes to the collection of latent prints. If you have ever encountered it for yourself, you know what I mean. Don’t give up completely in these environments. Look for a mason jar that might be up against a wall or in a card board box. These surfaces may be dry enough to get the latent prints.

The documentation on the latent print lift card is very important. You need to fill out the data related to the case as complete as possible to include the case number, where the item was located, the item’s number, the officer’s name who lifted the latent print, a complete description of the item, and a small detailed drawing of the item showing the location of the latent prints and the direction of the latent prints. Don’t forget to get the latent print lift card photographed in front of the item with the latent lift showing.

All latent print lift cards collected from a meth lab should be individually stored in a Ziplock baggie and then the complete collection in a Ziplock baggie. This is to protect the person who has to do the latent print comparison and the property people from getting any contamination. Latent prints from a meth lab should always be submitted with the rest of your evidence to your property room and never kept with the rest of your department’s latent prints due to possible contamination.

Evidence and samples

Hopefully you have done all of the above and just have to pick up your items of evidence and get it turned into property. In a marijuana grow operation you would do just that. In meth labs there are a few things to consider and follow at this point.

When collecting liquid samples, it is very important to get PH values for the liquid. If there is more than one layer, you need to get a PH value for each layer. It is necessary at this point to place a small (one drop) sample of the liquid into a field test kit to see if it is ephedrine or amphetamine.

It is very important to document the size, shape, and condition of the container from which you are collecting the liquid samples. Sometimes it is necessary to get a large ruler out and measure the container and the location of the liquid.

We used to be counseled not to collect a clear liquid from a can that has a PH value of seven. However, the meth cooks are becoming fanatical in the cleaning of their meth oil and then storing it in acetone, denatured alcohol, or even Coleman fuel cans, so collect all liquids.

When there are a large number of used coffee filters, collect small samples from the coffee filters for the state crime lab and collect the large quantity as one item for property. Only send the small samples to the state crime lab for analysis.

When collecting powders at a meth lab site, it is very important to collect all of the powder. However, just collect small samples to go to the state crime lab for analysis. Be very explicit describing the powder and the total quantity in your report. This helps the state crime lab determine the amount of finished product. A special note: if the powder is wet, try to get a PH value for it. If it has a PH of an acid or of a base, store the powder in its own metal paint can.

When dealing with red phosphorus, only collect small samples to send to the state crime lab. Collect the rest as one unit, but place it in its own metal paint can.

Iodine crystals or pellets have become very prominent lately. This substance is very toxic. Be sure to double Ziplock baggie these items.

You only need about 3 ml of the liquid for the state crime lab analysis, which is not much. You should collect two samples from each item. Label the sample vials the same number as the item’s number with one being that number and the letter “A” and the other being that number and the letter “B.” Place the sample vials in metal paint cans with kitty litter and mark the cans “A” and “B.” Send the can marked “A” to the state crime lab for analysis and retain the can marked “B” in property as the archival sample available to the defense attorney. And again, photograph the samples in front of the item they were collected from with the number visible.

Take special care to place all items such as funnels, tubing, documents, respirators, etc., collected as evidence, in Ziplock baggies to protect yourself and the property officers from contamination.

Well, I hope I have helped you understand what is necessary for a good clean processing of a marijuana grow operation and meth labs. They are challenging, but very rewarding when the prosecutor is handed a case that has all of the pieces of the puzzle put together and the bad guy goes away for