More information is coming out about the thousands of uncategorized files held by the Dallas Police Department (DPD).
Instead of the 52,000 uncategorized files originally reported, the number is, in fact, much higher, new revelations indicate.
Around 89,000 police videos have been improperly labeled since 2016, according to a memo that was sent to members of the Public Safety Committee last week.
District Attorney John Creuzot spoke on the record to reporters about the matter.
“I think that there’s a high likelihood that much of this data will not impact the outcome of the case. I think that there will be some that will impact the outcome, and we’ll have to be responsible toward that. We’re here to make sure that the right thing is done,” said Creuzot, per NBC 5 DFW.
The Dallas Express reached out to Lynn Richardson, Dallas’ chief public defender, for comment but received no response by the time of publication.
Other defense lawyers have spoken up about Creuzot’s comments, however.
“We’re kind of stuck not knowing and so is the prosecutor frankly,” said Brad Lollar, an assistant public defender who spoke to NBC 5.
Lollar spoke about a murder and robbery case from 2021 in which Kobe Mascorro was killed on South Barry Street in Dallas.
Body cam footage of the arrest of Tyle Ingram, a defendant in the case, might have been destroyed, according to Lollar.
“And that has apparently been destroyed. So, we’re considering what to do about that. We don’t think it will affect the case, but we want to make sure before we do anything,” said Lollar.
Creuzot is encouraging attorneys to file new motions if necessary.
“If they file a motion for a new trial, we encourage them to do so if they think that is appropriate. But we’re going to do our job and look at it to see whether or not it was of such a quality that it should have a bearing on whether or not a person gets a new trial,” said Creuzot.