Watch CBS News

DA: Errors At Nassau County Crime Lab 'Deeply Disturbing'

MINEOLA, NY (AP / WCBS 880 / CBS 2) -- New York officials have ordered the immediate shutdown of the drug chemistry section of the Nassau County crime lab.

District Attorney Kathleen Rice said the lab, which is currently under probation by a national accrediting agency, has produced a series of errors in its analysis of controlled substances. Nassau's is currently the only crime lab in the country under probation.

Podcast

WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reports from Long Island

Rice announced earlier this week that six cases involving drug arrests for ecstasy and Ketamine may have been compromised.

She said the questionable lab tests make it impossible for prosecutors to proceed with trials against alleged drug dealers.

Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano said Thursday that forensic analyses of narcotics will be conducted by an independent agency.

The county's medical examiner's office didn't immediately return messages requesting comment.

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.