TCSO Moves To Quash Subpoena Demanding Policies, Procedures In Darius Miles Murder Investigation

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has asked a judge to block a subpoena from the defense team of former Alabama basketball player and capital murder suspect Darius Miles, arguing the request is overly broad and seeks information that is irrelevant to the case.

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In a motion filed Sept. 22 in Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court, TCSO attorney Jay Stuck moved for Circuit Court Judge Daniel Pruet to quash the subpoena, which seeks documents related to training, policies, and certifications of investigators in the Violent Crimes Unit — the multiagency unit that initially investigated the shooting death of 23-year-old Jamea Harris on Jan. 15, 2023.

The defense subpoena from Turner Law Group specifically asked for copies of policies used when interviewing witnesses and suspects, training materials, certifications required for investigators, and records of educational programs attended by several named investigators.

As Patch previously reported, Michael Lynn Davis — the codefendant in the murder case believed to have fired the shot that killed Harris — was found guilty of capital murder in May and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He is serving out his sentence at the William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility in Bessemer.

Investigators and prosecutors have asserted that Miles gave his handgun to Davis in the moments before the shooting, knowing that it was going to be used in the commission of a violent crime.

Legal counsel for TCSO argues the subpoena amounts to a “fishing expedition” and is an improper attempt to seek discovery outside of Alabama’s criminal procedure rules.

“A subpoena compels production of evidence," the filing states, citing state and federal case law. "It is not a means of informational discovery, nor does it serve as an investigatory tool."

Prosecutors previously prevailed in a motion to suppress, with the court rejecting efforts by Turner Law Group to exclude statements Miles made during interrogations. TCSO says the present defense request is an attempt to re-litigate those issues by targeting training materials related to questioning practices.

The motion also raised security concerns, with TCSO arguing that releasing interrogation protocols and tactics used in violent crime investigations could compromise law enforcement methods.

“The full disclosure of this type of information would present a direct risk to the security of the process of those interrogations occurring in violent crime investigations,” the filing says.

As an alternative to quashing the subpoena, TCSO is requesting that the court issue a protective order limiting access to the documents to defense attorneys only and allowing a judge to first review any records in private.

A hearing date on the motion is set for Oct. 3 at 9 a.m.

As Patch previously reported, jury selection for Miles' trial is set to begin Dec. 1.

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