FORMER OFFICERS INDICTED IN SHAKEDOWN

BOAZ, Ala. (AP) -- Five former police officers have been accused of
shaking down Hispanics, robbing them of money and property in a scheme
that violated their civil rights, federal prosecutors said.

According to the indictments announced Friday, the Boaz police
officers made bogus traffic stops to steal money and property.

In one instance, officers took $420 in cash and beer from a Hispanic
motorist. In another, they took $100 from a wallet during a call to
the home of Hispanic family, the indictment said.

The indictment said officers purposely watched people emerge from
liquor stores across the city line and told officers inside the city
to make traffic stops. Boaz prohibits liquor sales.

Hispanics were targeted because they were believed to carry more cash
and be less likely to report the officers, the indictment said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Herbert ``Bud'' Henry said the conspiracy
began in April 1998 and continued through last summer when some
officers resigned and others were suspended.

Charged Friday were former police Capt. Timothy Don Hooks, 40; former
Sgt. Bobby Marlin Hunt, 31; former patrolmen Rickie T. Dobbs, 30;
Jeffrey Keith ``Smurf'' Sanders, 32, and Jonathon Robert ``Bull'' Jones, 27.

Four of the former officers were cooperating with investigators.
Hooks, a 17-year veteran of the Boaz Police Department, has denied
involvement in the scheme, said his attorney Tommy Spina. Hooks
remained in custody over the weekend.

All five are scheduled for arraignment on May 10 with trials set for
July 2. If convicted, they could face up to 10 years in prison without
parole.