Thick pollen could hinder crime investigations - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Thick pollen could hinder crime investigations

  • More WALB News10 HeadlinesMore News Headlines

  • Saturday, May 25 2013 7:30 AM EDT2013-05-25 11:30:07 GMT
    Albany Engineer K. Bruce Maples, P. E. announced some road closures Thursday morning. Beginning at 6:00 A.M., Saturday, May 25, 2013, the following streets will be closed for the Spring Fest and SB
    Albany Engineer K. Bruce Maples, announced some road closures beginning at 6:00 A.M., Saturday, May 25, 2013, in downtown Albany.

  • Friday, May 24 2013 10:55 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:55:46 GMT
    Not going out of town for Memorial Day? Don't worry, the Albany Panthers want to make sure you have a good weekend as they host their first ever beer fest. You can sample more than 20 types of beer Saturday
    Not going out of town for Memorial Day? Don't worry, the Albany Panthers want to make sure you have a good weekend as they host their first ever beer fest.

  • Friday, May 24 2013 10:50 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:50:57 GMT
    The family of a Miller County woman is mourning tonight after GBI investigators say the 58 year old was murdered by her husband, before he took his own life. Now the family of Barbara Bass is speaking
    The family of a Miller County woman is mourning tonight after GBI investigators say the 58 year old was murdered by her husband, before he took his own life.
    •   

April 2, 2007

Lee County-  The yellow haze that has been coating cars and porch furniture could also make it hard for police to collect fingerprints at crime scenes. 

The heavy pollen across South Georgia this spring could give criminals a helping hand. Pollen is the same as dust and dirt; it's a barrier that prevents the transfer of oil from criminals' hands to surfaces they touch. The black dust investigators use to find fingerprints sticks to the oils and allows them to use tape that lifts impressions. 

"Pollen is actually a fairly waxy type substance when you put your hands in it it can mix with amino acids, which is the substance that's on your fingers normally anyway that causes us to be able to lift fingerprints and so that will mix and fill in the ridges in your hand," said Col. Duane Sapp, Lee County Sheriff's office. 

Colonel Sapp said while fingerprinting a crime scene is useful, it's not the only way to solve a crime. Police and deputies rely on other techniques that may include witnesses or surveillance video to assist in catching a suspect.

Feedback: news@walb.com?subject=Pollen