Expert: Preserving scene not detective's duty
Owen S. Good, News Staff Writer
Published June 5, 2001 at midnight
An expert on police practices testified Monday that the first detective on the scene of the JonBenet Ramsey murder was not responsible for preserving evidence there.
J.P. Van Blaricom, former police chief in Bellevue, Wash., said the sergeants who preceded Linda Arndt at the scene were responsible for preserving it. Arndt, he said, was there to answer a ransom call for what was believed to be a kidnapping.
Arndt is suing the city of Boulder, former police Chief Tom Koby and current Chief Mark Beckner. She says she was not allowed to respond to news accounts that she claims erroneously blamed her for mishandling the crime scene, and that her bosses refused to act on her behalf.
Arndt is expected to testify today. The city then plans to call up to seven former officers, Koby and Beckner, and present a case that their attorney, Theodore Halaby, has said will air dirty laundry about the investigation.
Van Blaricom, who was retained by Arndt to defend her handling of the crime scene, repeatedly qualified his opinion Monday of Arndt's conduct in the context of the unusual situation she faced.
Letting John and Patsy Ramsey hug their daughter's body, allowing the body to be moved, and not clearing the house of the seven others present were all "human decisions," he said.
But Halaby argued that she was experienced enough to handle hysterical parents and keep a crime scene preserved.
"This wasn't any wilting lilly," he said. "She was trained to handle high-stress conditions."
Arndt has not specified the damages she is seeking. But in court documents filed last week, Judge William F. Downes told her attorneys not to expect a spectacular amount.
"It's certainly not a seven-figure case nor a high six-figure case in my opinion," Downes said in a May 14 conference call hearing with both sides.
Downes encouraged attorneys to settle, and warned of the ramifications of a trial that revisited or revealed serious errors made in the Ramsey investigation.
"This matter is going to get some notoriety that I don't think . . . is going to be very flattering to either side," he said. "It'll be a good old-fashioned humdinger."
The trial resumes at 8:45 a.m. today.
Featured
-
Winter Escapes
Your insider’s guide to the copious joys of the coolest season.
-
Rocky Multimedia
The news comes alive in our videos and slide shows. Catch up on what's happening today.
-
Broncos Video
More Broncos videos. Get the latest from Dove Valley
-
Sam Adams' Open Mic
Open Mic: Ink-stained wretches in sports
-
Season To Share
The Post-News Season To Share campaign provides grants to area nonprofits.
-
The Rocky @ 150 Years
The Rocky was there when Colorado became a state in 1876. Read our coverage.
-
A Dozen on Denver
And the winner is... Robert Ziegler! See the whole fiction series by clicking here.
-
Stein's View
Editorial cartoons by Ed Stein
-
Bronco Dean's rant
Listen to Bronco Dean's midweek rant on the Raiders.




Post your comment
Registration is required. Click here to create your free user account, or login below.
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.