District Attorney Sutter “Stunned” By Drug Lab Shutdown

Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter said he was stunned to learn about the mishandling of drug samples in as many as 60,000 cases at a Mass. Crime Lab. The State Police has since shut down the lab. One employee was fired, another has resigned, and a third faces disciplinary action. Sutter tells WBSM News, there are still many unanswered questions.

Gov. Patrick and other state officials are working with prosecutors from around the state to determine what impact the violation of lab protocols will have on local drug cases, if any. Sutter also said Thursday, he is now thinking about running for a third term as Bristol County D-A. He had pledged earlier to serve only two terms, but the D-A says many people recently have urged him to run again in 2014. Sutter says he'll make a decision sometime next year. Sutter was defeated in a bid for the 9th Congressional District seat on September 6.