Serial Suspect

I am struck by your quote from Deputy Dist. Atty. Dan Lamborn, “We live in a country of laws, we live in a country of rules,” in explaining why the police did not have a DNA sample from (suspected serial killer) Cleophus Prince Jr. He added that “this isn’t Baghdad, this isn’t Moscow. This is San Diego.” (“Police Queried Suspect After Third Killing,” March 6.)

Yes, this is the same place that can stop me at any time when I’m driving and demand a blood sample to test for alcohol. It would seem to me that resemblance to a composite sketch of a person who has perpetrated a heinous crime is at least as good a reason to request a blood sample as driving suspiciously. And I am sure that the young ladies in Clairemont Mesa felt more jeopardized by a serial killer than by a drunken driver.

Also, what Lamborn apparently evaded answering is whether the police even politely asked Prince for a DNA sample and whether or not he refused. From what I read, that’s all they did in Alabama. They just asked there, and apparently he readily agreed.

CHARLES W. BENNETT, San Diego