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Vegas Cop Thought OJ Heist 'Couldn't Be True'

'It didn't make sense' until he heard tape

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 18, 2008 3:03 PM CDT

(Newser) – The first Las Vegas detective to investigate OJ Simpson’s alleged involvement in an armed robbery last September said he was initially flabbergasted at the idea, the Los Angeles Times reports. “It didn't make sense,” Andy Caldwell testified yesterday at Simpson’s trial. Caldwell was soon swayed by surveillance video and the stories of two memorabilia dealers who said they had been threatened with guns.

Simpson’s trial continued today, with the judge expected to rule on whether jurors would be led through a mockup of the hotel room built in the courthouse basement. The prosecution’s case appears to rest on a transcription of lo-fi audio tape they say confirms Simpson’s crime. Defense lawyers had lobbied for the exclusion of the recording, based on its quality, but were denied.

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Chief Deputy District Attorney Chris Owens, left, questions Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Detective Andy Caldwell during the O.J. Simpson armed robbery-kidnapping trial. (AP Photo)

O.J. Simpson and his attorney Yale Galanter. (AP Photo)

If it was anybody else, we would have arrested him that night," said Las Vegas detective Andy Caldwell of OJ Simpson. "Because of who he was, we wanted to make sure we had everything right." (AP Photo)

OJ Simpson gestures during his trial in Las Vegas. (AP Photo)

Judge Jackie Glass presides. (AP Photo)

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If it was anybody else, we would have arrested him that night. Because of who he was, we wanted to make sure we had everything right. - Detective Andy Caldwell

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Vegas Cop Thought OJ Heist 'Couldn't Be True'