Columbia attorney discovered drug lab problems

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A Columbia attorney whose client said he had less cocaine when arrested than police claimed is responsible for an investigation that shut down the police crime lab.

The State newspaper reported (http://bit.ly/1CB9Xr5 ) that attorney Victor Li hired a forensic scientist to confirm the weight of crack cocaine seized from a client.

The city’s testing showed the client had 10.7 grams when he was arrested last year and charged with trafficking in cocaine. Police can make the trafficking charge with when the amount is more than 10 grams.

A forensic scientist weighed the crack cocaine at about 8 grams. The city’s lone drug analyst then confirmed the new amount.

The analyst has resigned, and the police closed the lab last month. The charges against Li’s client were reduced.

___

Information from: The State, http://www.thestate.com