Columbus Criminal Law Blog

We have all seen it on the television shows; when police investigate a homicide, they often begin by looking at those closest to the deceased. Real life is not that different, but simply because that is where police begin looking it does not mean that the answer is there too.

An Ohio man accused of ending the life of his family friend has claimed his innocence for the past 17 years, so when he was told that DNA from the murder scene was being tested, he said that the results would be no surprise. Per his prediction, the DNA lab tests exonerated him as the owner of the blood found.

Police officers in Ohio can make a traffic stop based on a variety of possible traffic violations, including running through a stop sign, swerving across the center lane and failing to use a turn signal, amongst others. These ordinary traffic stops are often used by officers as the first step to more serious charges. Although they have the authority to conduct further investigation when warranted, it does not mean that they always follow the rules in doing so.

A traffic stop in Preble County nearly two weeks ago led to the arrest and indictment of six individuals for possession and trafficking of marijuana.

When a person is arrested for DUI in Columbus, one of the first things often done while in custody at the holding cell is to take a blood test. This helps build the case that the prosecutor is going to present to convict the driver. They will say, "The BAC one hour after arrest was .17, over twice the legal driving limit, and so we must conclude that the driver was intoxicated while behind the wheel."

Blood tests to determine alcohol content in a person's system at the time of arrest are scientific tests, so they must be both absolutely accurate and precise. Right? The prior statement could not be more far from the truth. What people often forget is that while the science might be right, the tests are conducted through the use of humans and machines, both of which are fallible.

Drug crimes are prevalent in Ohio, especially the drug heroin. Drug crimes have serious consequences and Ohio law enforcement officers take drug crimes seriously. Ohio has implemented the Central Ohio Drug Enforcement Task Force to investigate drug crimes.

The result of a Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation led to the arrest of two Ohio residents. One of the suspects was a 17-year-old girl and the other suspect was a 30-year-old adult. The two arrests were made following an alleged heroin drug sale near a local high school.