Lauderhill police solve crime using DNA testing

Police generally do not use DNA evidence to solve robberies, but the sight of a 92-year-old woman lying unconscious in a pool of blood was enough for Lauderhill's Strategic Enforcement Team (SET) to go all out to catch the culprit.

"The homeowner, who happened to be a 92-year-old woman, walked in when the burglary was in progress," Police Chief Andrew Smalling said. "On seeing her, the man took a golf club and hit her on the head many times. When our patrol officers came, she was unconscious."

Within minutes of the patrol officers arriving on the scene, the SET members had sprung into action. "It was because of the heinous nature of the crime that we decided to use DNA technology," Smalling said. "We wanted the criminal off the streets."

The incident happened in May. After conducting a crime-scene analysis of the robbery, talking to neighbors and collecting DNA evidence, the SET sent the evidence for testing. After a two-week wait, they received a response. Within hours, they had their man.

Police officers generally shy away from the limelight, but Smalling wasn't going to let his ace team do that this time. At a recent City Commission meeting, city officials recognized the swift action of the team.

"The empathy that our officers had for the victim and their dedication to get a bad criminal off the streets helped them solve the case quickly," Smalling said. "This recognition is well deserved."

The team includes Lt. Gary Celetti, SET commander, Detective Corey Pendergrass, Detective Joseph Lagrasta, Crime-Scene technician Jamie LaVista, Detective Steve Coulson, Detective Merrith Knight, and Sergeant Josh Hansen. The unit is under the criminal investigations division formed after Smalling took over as chief.

In 2012, the department received a Coverdell Forensic Science Grant for using DNA technology to solve crimes. The success rate of the department in solving crimes has increased substantially ever since it started using the technology, said department spokesman Lt. Greg Solowsky.

"We received a $40,000 grant two years ago," Solowsky said. "A lot of agencies have budgetary restrictions, but the grant allows us to use DNA technology in the case of burglaries, as well. We have had a high success rate. We are going to reapply for the grant or find another source of funding."

The agency uses both the Broward Sheriff's Office crime lab and private labs to test DNA evidence. The testing of each sample costs $200 to $700.

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Lauderhill police solve crime using DNA testing