Detroit MI. March 19 2008
Rape response delayed because of juristiction questions
A 13-year-old Flint girl told authorities she was lured over the Internet to Detroit and gang raped at gunpoint by six men Saturday, but a doctor said she couldn't interest two police agencies in interviewing the victim or taking evidence.
Dr. Manya Newton of Hurley Medical Center in Flint told the Free Press on Monday that she interviewed, examined and treated the teenager Saturday night and determined the girl was raped.
"We were all appalled," said Newton, who has been a doctor for six years. "I've never had this happen before.
"Everyone seemed to feel like it was somebody else's hot potato," she said. "This is a 13-year-old girl's life. She is never going to be the same."
Jim Butler, a hospital social worker, said he called the Detroit and Flint police departments late that night in an effort to get one of them to interview the victim and take custody of a rape kit, which included forensic evidence and clothing, but both departments refused.
Detroit police spokesman James Tate said Monday that Flint police could have gotten the legal process started by taking the girl's rape report and forwarding it and the evidence to Detroit's sex crimes unit. Tate said: "Procedurally, the hospital could have recommended that the complainant go to the Flint Police Department or the Flint officers could have gone to the hospital."
Flint Police Sgt. Brett Small said the teen reported that the rape occurred in Detroit, so the investigation and evidence collection fall under the Detroit police's jurisdiction.
"We wouldn't come in and take a rape kit if the crime did not occur in Flint," Small said. "The hospital can preserve it. Normally, there are no time restrictions for anything like that."
Several statewide law enforcement agencies said Monday that it would not have been inappropriate for Flint to take the report and forward it to Detroit.
Newton, who was upset by the way the two law enforcement agencies responded to the hospital's calls, said keeping the evidence in a hospital refrigerator would be irresponsible and possibly create concerns about the evidence chain of custody.
"This evidence may or may not prove the rape," she said. "I can't just stick it in the fridge and have no one watch it."
How evidence collected in rape cases is preserved often plays a role during criminal trials.
Newton said she understands that Detroit is a long drive in the middle of the night for an understaffed police department. "But there needs to be some kind of protocol for rape victims late at night when they are not in the right jurisdiction," she said.
The situation at Hurley Medical Center began about 9 p.m. Saturday when the girl, whose identity is not being reported because she is a rape victim, came into the hospital with her mother. She told Newton she had met a man on the Internet and went to Detroit to meet him.
The man dropped her off at a house at West Seven Mile and Greenfield, where the girl said six men raped her at gunpoint. She said she eventually left the house and called her mother from a cell phone.
Her mother drove to Detroit, picked her up and returned to Flint, taking the girl straight to Hurley, they told Newton.
"From my examination, it appeared she had been raped," Newton said. "Her injuries were consistent with her story."
Around 11 p.m., Hurley had Butler call Detroit police and tell them about the alleged rape. Butler said an officer instructed him to call Flint police.
Butler then said he called Flint police who told him that Detroit police were responsible for the case.
During a second call to Detroit, Butler said a sex crimes officer told him to put the evidence in a refrigerator and they would pick it up at some point.
"The whole thing is sad," Butler said Monday night. "They weren't interested in hearing any details."
Eventually, Newton said she called a hospital director to complain about the situation. Early Sunday morning, two State Police troopers came and took the rape kit, Newton said.
"We are working with State Police," Tate said of the investigation by Detroit police.
Rape response delayed because of juristiction questions
A 13-year-old Flint girl told authorities she was lured over the Internet to Detroit and gang raped at gunpoint by six men Saturday, but a doctor said she couldn't interest two police agencies in interviewing the victim or taking evidence.
Dr. Manya Newton of Hurley Medical Center in Flint told the Free Press on Monday that she interviewed, examined and treated the teenager Saturday night and determined the girl was raped.
"We were all appalled," said Newton, who has been a doctor for six years. "I've never had this happen before.
"Everyone seemed to feel like it was somebody else's hot potato," she said. "This is a 13-year-old girl's life. She is never going to be the same."
Jim Butler, a hospital social worker, said he called the Detroit and Flint police departments late that night in an effort to get one of them to interview the victim and take custody of a rape kit, which included forensic evidence and clothing, but both departments refused.
Detroit police spokesman James Tate said Monday that Flint police could have gotten the legal process started by taking the girl's rape report and forwarding it and the evidence to Detroit's sex crimes unit. Tate said: "Procedurally, the hospital could have recommended that the complainant go to the Flint Police Department or the Flint officers could have gone to the hospital."
Flint Police Sgt. Brett Small said the teen reported that the rape occurred in Detroit, so the investigation and evidence collection fall under the Detroit police's jurisdiction.
"We wouldn't come in and take a rape kit if the crime did not occur in Flint," Small said. "The hospital can preserve it. Normally, there are no time restrictions for anything like that."
Several statewide law enforcement agencies said Monday that it would not have been inappropriate for Flint to take the report and forward it to Detroit.
Newton, who was upset by the way the two law enforcement agencies responded to the hospital's calls, said keeping the evidence in a hospital refrigerator would be irresponsible and possibly create concerns about the evidence chain of custody.
"This evidence may or may not prove the rape," she said. "I can't just stick it in the fridge and have no one watch it."
How evidence collected in rape cases is preserved often plays a role during criminal trials.
Newton said she understands that Detroit is a long drive in the middle of the night for an understaffed police department. "But there needs to be some kind of protocol for rape victims late at night when they are not in the right jurisdiction," she said.
The situation at Hurley Medical Center began about 9 p.m. Saturday when the girl, whose identity is not being reported because she is a rape victim, came into the hospital with her mother. She told Newton she had met a man on the Internet and went to Detroit to meet him.
The man dropped her off at a house at West Seven Mile and Greenfield, where the girl said six men raped her at gunpoint. She said she eventually left the house and called her mother from a cell phone.
Her mother drove to Detroit, picked her up and returned to Flint, taking the girl straight to Hurley, they told Newton.
"From my examination, it appeared she had been raped," Newton said. "Her injuries were consistent with her story."
Around 11 p.m., Hurley had Butler call Detroit police and tell them about the alleged rape. Butler said an officer instructed him to call Flint police.
Butler then said he called Flint police who told him that Detroit police were responsible for the case.
During a second call to Detroit, Butler said a sex crimes officer told him to put the evidence in a refrigerator and they would pick it up at some point.
"The whole thing is sad," Butler said Monday night. "They weren't interested in hearing any details."
Eventually, Newton said she called a hospital director to complain about the situation. Early Sunday morning, two State Police troopers came and took the rape kit, Newton said.
"We are working with State Police," Tate said of the investigation by Detroit police.
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JOIN OUR NEW SOCIAL NETWORK…….www.privateofficer.com
On Sale NOW!
PROTECT YOURSELF!-Tasers, Pepper Spray, Stun Guns
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GET PAID TO SHOP!~ MAKE MONEY FROM HOME!~~~REALLY! CHECK IT OUT!
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