Report: Ohio State Highway Patrol crime lab backlogged

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (AP) — A newspaper reports that a backlog at the Ohio State Highway Patrol crime lab has caused dozens of cases to be dismissed while investigators awaited evidence.

The patrol won’t discuss individual cases but acknowledges the backlog and says it’s trying to resolve the problem.

The Springfield News-Sun reports today it found at least four cases in which drug charges were dismissed because of the time it took to process evidence, following which the suspects allegedly committed other offenses after the initial charges.

The paper says Clark County Prosecutor Andy Wilson has expressed his concerns to Ohio Public Safety director Tom Charles.

Patrol spokeswoman Lt. Anne Ralston says the lab had a backlog of 4,069 cases in August and the agency hopes to clear that backlog this year.