Tape in Assemblyman's D.U.I. Case Not Preserved

Here’s some clarification on what exactly happened to the tape that Assemblyman Karim Camara told me was destroyed.

According to a spokeswoman for Albany County District Attorney David Soares, Albany police did not “preserve” the videotape--according to Camara "crucial" evidence in the D.U.I. case against him--that showed Camara refusing to take a breathalyser test at the police station.

Spokeswoman Heather Orth told me that, as in all D.U.I. cases, the D.A. requested a copy of the tape from the police. But, she said, they never received it. After an unspecified amount of time, the D.A.’s office made a second request for it. It was only then that they were informed by Albany police officials that the recording had been taped over.

Because of that, the judge has thrown out one charge against Camara, but the initial D.U.I. charge against him is still being prosecuted, she told me, and the videotape is not needed for that.

Camara’s next court appearance is sometime in June, according to Orth.