L.A. County sheriff's employee microwaved blood evidence in his own DUI case, D.A. says

"We entrust our public officials and law enforcement officers to uphold the law, not to break it,"

"Those who perform civic service should expect to be held to a higher standard. This wasn't a mistake. This was a concerted effort to flout the law to escape justice."

"The Department was made aware of the alleged misconduct on September 11, 2024, and it was immediately referred to the Department's Internal Criminal Investigations Bureau (ICIB) for a comprehensive review,"

"Following a thorough investigation, the case was submitted to the Justice System Integrity Division (JSID) on August 21, 2025, for filing consideration."

Tommy Ray Trimble, 60, faces felony counts of second-degree commercial burglary, preparing false evidence, destroying government records and a misdemeanor count of destroying evidence. He was arrested July 7, 2024, on the 91 Freeway in Compton on suspicion of driving under the influence and had his blood drawn. Trimble worked as an evidence and property custodian at the sheriff's crime laboratory in Downey. On Sept. 11, 2024, a sheriff's criminalist noticed the blood sample was damaged. Trimble is accused of microwaving the sample in an evidence vault to destroy it. The Sheriff's Department separated from Trimble and referred the case to the Internal Criminal Investigations Bureau and then to the Justice System Integrity Division for filing consideration.

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