Drug Section of Troubled L.I. Crime Lab Ordered Shut

New York officials have ordered the immediate shutdown of the drug chemistry section of the Nassau
County crime lab.
       
District Attorney Kathleen Rice says 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.
       
Rice announced earlier this week that six cases involving drug arrests for ecstasy and Ketamine may have been compromised.
       
She says 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
Copyright AP - Associated Press
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