DNA evidence solves ’08 Taco Bell break-in

Finally, with futuristic bio-technology, police have solved a three-year-old break-in at a Taco Bell in Tompkinsville.

A blood stain that has been sitting in a police lab since September 2008 finally found a match with Naquan Christie, now 19, of Pleasantville, N.Y., authorities said.

Police picked up the blood sample from a cash register in the Taco Bell on Victory Boulevard near Bay Street, according to the Staten Island Advance. Police say it came from Christie, then 16, after he smashed through a drive-through window Sept. 8 of that year, at around 6 a.m., according to the New York Post.

The DNA from the blood was charted and stored away in police records, but didn’t find a match until Christie got arrested recently for fighting with counselors at a youth center in Westchester County, the Post said. Once his DNA got registered in the system, the old blood sample found a match, investigators said.

Christie was charged Thursday with burglary, criminal mischief and petit larceny.

About Barry Lank

Barry Lank is a former TV and radio writer, and, like most people, was editor of the Courier-Post opinion page in Cherry Hill, at some point. If you look up, you'll realize he's watching you read this. | View all posts by Barry Lank