Tuesday, July 9, 1996

Defense Attacks Irving Police Department

DALLAS (AP) - Evidence could have been contaminated by Irving police during the bust of Michael Irvin's motel room, an officer said Tuesday in the Dallas Cowboys star's felony drug possession trial.

The testimony from Brian Crum, whose 1-year tenure made him the least experienced of four officers at the scene last March, came as defense attorneys tried to further their contention that police made a "comedy of errors."

The trial's ninth day also marked the first time Irvin's family joined him in the courtroom. His mother, an aunt, a sister and a niece sat quietly in the front row, about eight feet from him.

"I think his family is here because they love the man and they want to be here with him," defense attorney Don Godwin said. "They've traveled a long way to be here with him, and I personally respect that."

Defense attorney Royce West, who promised in his opening statements to show sloppy police work, hammered on Crum about why officers handled the evidence and didn't call a crime-scene technician.

Crum acknowledged "it's possible" he contaminated evidence when he plucked a plate containing a white residue believed to be cocaine and marijuana from underneath the spot on a loveseat where Irvin was sitting.

Crum testified he also found two baggies of marijuana underneath the covers of an upstairs bed, and plastic bags containing a golf ball-sized rock of cocaine and another with white residue in a gym bag belonging to Angela Beck, the only person arrested March 4.

A crime-scene specialist could have pulled fingerprints from the plastic bags, but they are only called on "major cases," Crum testified.

Upon further questioning, Crum said, this offense does fall into that category.

Irvin, who is charged with felony cocaine possession, could receive probation or up to 20 years in prison if convicted. He also faces a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge that will be heard later.

Topless dancers Beck and Jasmine Nabwangu also are indicted, but have yet to be tried. The fourth person in the room, former Dallas teammate Alfredo Roberts, was not indicted.

West also asked Crum about several mixed drink glasses on a coffee table that were not taken into evidence despite their being near an end table where much of the cocaine and drug paraphernalia were found.

"If the end table had a plate with white residue, straws and razor blades ... would that not give you some suspicions that someone who was drinking in the corner also was doing cocaine?" West said. "Shouldn't you have taken the glasses to check for fingerprints?"

"That's a hard question to answer," said Crum, adding that such decisions were not his to make. "I just don't know."

Earlier Tuesday, Godwin tried showing up Irving police by extensively questioning officer Les Motheral on several procedural matters, especially about why he did not remove the straws or razor blades found on a plate.

Motheral said he didn't see any white residue on the straws, and the blades were left behind because he couldn't tell whether there was residue and because they were very sharp.

The next big issue expected to surface is why police arrested only Beck. That question will likely be asked of Irving police Sgt. Mike Kiere, who was expected to testify after Crum.

In preparation for Kiere's testimony, Motheral and Crum were asked several times whether the officers had discussed whether Irvin should be arrested or whether they suggested as much to Kiere.

All said they did not talk about it and that the decision was solely up to Kiere, the supervisor called to the scene.

Cowboys Chatroom.....Dallas Cowboys.....Back to Reporter OnLine