DRUG INFORMANTS CAN CONVICT WRONG PEOPLE

Law enforcement officials in and near Mansfield, Ohio, are involved
in a nightmare -- one that they helped create for more than two dozen
innocent people. Some of them have spent time in prison for crimes
they did not commit.

In 2005, police enlisted small-time drug dealer Jerrell Bray as an
informant. Based in part on his tips, they arrested 26 people,
charging them with drug offenses. Bray's testimony was important in
convicting some of them, including a Mansfield mother who spent 16
months in prison.

She and most of those arrested as a result of Bray's tips have been
released from custody. In turns out that Bray was lying, setting
people up for police even if they had nothing to do with illegal
drugs. Bray now is serving 15 years in prison for his deceptions.

Drug informants often are critical in bringing pushers to justice.
But, not infrequently, police find that informants -- usually drug
users and/or dealers themselves -- are lying in order to keep
themselves out on the streets and out of jail.

Clearly, the authorities involved in the Mansfield arrests and
convictions did not demonstrate the proper amount of skepticism
regarding Bray. Their failure should serve as a lesson to other law
officers who use drug informants.