Posted at: 11/04/2009 7:23 PM
Updated at: 11/05/2009 8:06 AM
By: Mary Taing

Day Three in Rude Trial

(ABC 6 NEWS) - Suspended Austin Police Captain Curt Rude took the stand Wednesday in day three of the trial.

Rude was on the stand to defend himself against charges that he stole the drug Oxycontin from the police evidence locker.

Captain Rude became emotional when talking about the events that led up to the charge against him.

Including when he talked about his close friend who died of a drug overdose, the same person who originally possessed those drugs.

Captain Rude said he went down to the evidence room to look for pictures that may have been stolen.

That's when a hatchet caught his eye.

The hatchet was in a burn barrel.

Rude said he picked up the hatchet and saw two pill bottles that belonged to a friend who died of a drug overdose.

He said he took the pill bottles thinking he can research the drug to see whether or not he could have found a way to stop his friend from wanting to commit suicide.

When asked why he initially lied to the police chief about taking the two bottles, Rude said it was because he didn't want to talk about his friend's death.

Although he admitted to taking the drugs out of the evidence room, Rude said he never intended to take the drugs out of the police station.

He also said there was no formal policy to check out items from the burn barrel.

During cross-examination, the prosecution asked Rude if the officer who turned him in for taking the drugs did the right thing.

He said yes.

Closing arguments are expected Thursday morning, and the jury is expected to start deliberations as early as noon.