Etowah County cuts drug case backlog with new device

Etowah County law enforcement officials say a new device has helped them significantly cut into a backlog of drug cases in just three months. Etowah County obtained the equipment, which was partially paid for through an ADECA grant, at a cost of about $40,000. The device has a database and can make a determination of substances through plastic bags or glass, which prevents evidence contamination and exposure. It also recognizes substances like spice, bath salts and other narcotics. The device usually needs about a quarter gram to render a determination.  Officials say If the substance cannot be determined, TruNarc's manufacturer Thermo Scientific offers support online to help make determinations. The company also offers training to allow users to understand how TruNarc works.  The importance of the equipment comes when one considers that, prior to using TruNarc, Etowah County had a three-year backlog in terms of waiting for results from the state Department of Forensics. Because of budget cuts and the closure of the Jacksonville forensics lab, about 2,000 cases lagged while waiting for tests.  Over the last three months, the department has been able to move about 250 cases a month, largely cutting the backlog in half. Savage said the unit hopes to have the backlog taken care of by the end of the year.