Proper Procedure

[Byu]

I am just wondering about something that i witnessed AND received an explaination for but am still a bit bewildered about.

My best friend, my fiance and I witnessed a man get hit and killed in an accident. He was riding his bicycle and was struck by a truck. After the scene was investigated and all of the officers had left, all of this mans personal belongings that were on him were left on the side of the road in plain view of anyone passing. (Hat, shoes, necklace, and a bag that he was apparently carrying) The man had no ID but was later identified the next day. This happened at 12:30 in the morning and the scene was finally cleaned up at daylight with the exception of the guys personal belongings.

My question is this.........Why would the officers leave his stuff on the side of the road? With him being in this area and no ID wouldn't it be more tramatic for someone in his family to have driven by and seen say perhaps his hat or something. I was just wondering.....I asked about this but I was not given a very clear answer.

[Charlie]

Just generally depends upon what an agency's procedures are concerning this kind of situation. My best guess is that most PD's will generally help with securing someone's property in most cases. Usually it will likely be logged into the property room for safekeeping or maybe turned over to a friend or relative at the scene if it is not some form of evidence.

I don't wish to take sides on the issue but I am a little confused as to why the victim's "stuff" was left on the side of the road? But again, perhaps there is some sort of explanation that would shed light on this if we had the opportunity to ask some official that was there? The only other thing that comes to mind is maybe someone forgot to gather the victim's things and accidently left it there? Who knows at this point.....that's my thoughts on this.

Charlie

[Byu]

Well, the explaination that i received was that it just wasn't needed as evidence. I understand that part but out of respect for this dead person wouldn't someone want to collect the items for the family when the body was finally Identified instead of just leaving it on the side of the road for them to go and find. I don't know I guess I just feel as though with 3 different LE agencies (10 officers in all) investigating this matter that someone would have collected these things.

Another thing that puzzled us........all 3 of us witnessed this accident happen (called 911) and not one of the officers questioned what we saw. With only the vehicle involved in the accident and the one that drove upon the scene wouldn't they have been interested in knowing what we saw? I don't know...maybe I am wrong.......any opinions on this?

[Solego]

When you have that many agencies in the same place at the same time, there is some confusion about who is going to do what. Most of the time there is a lot of *****ing about who is going to do what!

[Charlie]

Byu--Well, like Solego said, when you have several agencies on the scene, sometimes there can be some confusion as to WHO is going to do WHAT.

As for why none of you were questioned about the accident.....I really don't have an explanation for that. Maybe officers at the scene had sufficient evidence and information at hand concerning this incident in question. However, I think most cases, agencies will want to locate and gather any witness information and/or statements concerning any death-related investigation.

Other than what I stated already, I don't know why the agencies in question did not do this based on the information you've provided. Again, there MAY be other factors or information none of us are aware of. OR, quite possibly, the investigation wasn't meticulous as perhaps as it should have been?

BUT,.....I am inclined to agree with you concerning the victim's property. Someone should have made a reasonable effort to gather the victim's property instead of leaving it on the side of the road.

Charlie

[Byu]

Thanks guys