City Council Responds to News About Untested Rape Kit

Cleveland Heights City Council Member Kenneth Montlack addressed the criticism that the city's police department has received in light of the discovery that it failed to test rape evidence later linked to Anthony Sowell, who is suspected of killing 11 women. 

The department is making some changes, Montlack said at Monday night's regular council meeting. 

"Although at the time there was no DNA match that would have identified the perpetrator because his DNA had not been entered into the state system, the incident shows the changes in policy and procedures were needed," Montlack said during a three-minute statement on the issue. 

The Plain Dealer reported on May 13 that evidence from a rape that occurred in Cleveland Heights in April 2009 was never tested by police and matches Sowell's DNA.

When The Plain Dealer asked for more information about how the city handles sexual assault cases, .

Cleveland Heights Law Director John Gibbon said the information could be used as evidence in Sowell's trial, and releasing it publicly could negatively impact the proceedings, according to the article. 

According to an article published in The Plain Dealer June 17, the city's request was denied, and Gibbon provided more information about how the 2009 rape kit was handled. Police admitted they never tested it. 

"I can report that the Cleveland Heights Police Department has thoroughly reviewed its policies and procedures in this regard to assure that all such evidence is and will be submitted for testing as quickly and as efficiently as possible," Montlack said. 

Click on the links above to find full articles from The Plain Dealer.