JURY GETS ACCUSED DEALER'S DRUG CASE

Suspect, Who Claimed He Was Rooting Out Bad Cops And Helping FBI,
Faces Life In Prison.

PONTIAC -- An Oakland Circuit Court jury will deliberate today to
discuss the fate of an accused drug dealer who claimed he sold
cocaine and heroin to protect his family, help root out bad cops and
provide information to the FBI.

Michael Logan is on trial in Oakland Circuit Judge Steven N. Andrews'
courtroom for drug possession with intent to deliver less than 50
grams of drugs after Ferndale police raided his Eight Mile motel room
earlier this year.

Logan, 58, was arrested in February, less than a month after being
paroled from prison, where he did a stretch of 20-plus years for
armed robbery. Logan told the jury he was trying to bust "bad cops"
while protecting his sister and family.

"He gave every reason in the world for what he was doing," said Beth
Hand, assistant Oakland County prosecuting attorney. "I think it's
interesting that in his conspiracy story, only two things really hold
up: that he admits he had drugs and he admits he was selling drugs."

Logan's defense attorney, Howard Arnkoff, told jurors Logan's
problems began before he left prison, when he was approached by other
inmates to sell drugs on the outside. Arnkoff said Logan felt his
sister and family would be harmed if he didn't do as directed, and
before he left prison "he told a federal judge of his problem" and it
was eventually referred to the FBI for investigation.

An FBI agent testified Logan was interviewed in prison, but no one
could ever corroborate his claims, including possible involvement by
corrupt Detroit police officers.

After he was paroled, Logan contacted the FBI and said he would like
to help get bad cops off the streets. He was cautioned not to do
anything that could put him back in prison.

Acting on a tip, Ferndale police raided a room Logan had rented at
the Motorama Motel on Eight Mile on Feb. 27. Ferndale Officer David
Spellman testified that, in a bathroom, officers found a can of air
freshener that had a false bottom containing three grams of heroin
and seven grams of crack cocain in various size rocks.

Spellman said the quantity of drugs, worth several hundred dollars,
was inconsistent with personal use.

Because the alleged offense occurred while he was on parole, Logan
faces up to life in prison if convicted.