Feds Drop Police Charges

U.S. FAILS TO MAKE CORRUPTION CASE AGAINST DETROIT COPS

Seventeen Detroit police officers and two former officers were charged
by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

DETROIT The U.S. Attorney's Office asked a federal judge to dismiss
charges against seven Detroit Police officers accused of falsifying
evidence and framing suspects, defense lawyers said Monday.

The decision, which all but assures the officers will be cleared, is
an embarrassing outcome to a case that was touted by the Justice
Department as one of the largest single indictments of corrupt police
officers in Detroit.

Seventeen officers and two former officers were charged last year,
following a yearlong joint investigation by the FBI and the Detroit
Police Department. On May 20, eight of the officers were acquitted on
all counts. Earlier, three officers pleaded guilty to lesser charges
and charges were dismissed against another officer.

All the officers remain suspended without pay, awaiting the outcome of
internal disciplinary proceedings.

The seven officers who were indicted in June 2003 were to stand
trial Oct. 18 on charges that they conspired to violate the civil
rights of citizens by planting drugs and guns on suspects, illegally
searching homes and writing false police reports. Most of the victims
had prior felony convictions for drug or gun use.

Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Michael Bullotta, the lead prosecutor,
submitted paperwork asking U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn to approve
the government's request to dismiss the grand jury indictment, federal
officials said.

Bullotta telephoned defense attorneys in the case Thursday to inform
them of the government's decision, five lawyers for the officers said
Monday.

"The government has used sound judgment in deciding not to proceed,"
said William Hachett, a Pontiac lawyer for Officer James Coss, who had
been charged with eight felonies. "This case never should have been
brought on the word of convicted criminals."

One of the indicted officers, Thomas Turkaly, sent an e-mail to The
Detroit News on Monday, informing the paper of the decision.

Turkaly's lawyer, Todd Perkins, praised the decision, noting that a
jury had already acquitted the alleged ringleaders, Officer William
Melendez, nicknamed "RoboCop," and Matthew Zani, and others who had
been charged with more serious and extensive wrongdoing.

"They took some time to let the dust settle. I'm glad they made the
right decision," Perkins said. "It's pretty rare for a case of this
magnitude to get dismissed without a trial."

The acquitted officers could have testified for their fellow officers
at a second trial, making it difficult to win convictions, defense
lawyers said.

Cynthia Johnson, the sister of Coss, attacked the government.

"My brother is an honest man," she said. "It's so easy in Detroit, if
you want to be wrong, to do wrong. He has always done the right thing
throughout his whole job."

Johnson, of Portland, Ore., was born and raised in Detroit along with
her brother. Her brother has three sons and struggled to make ends
meet while he was suspended, she said. "Some (of the officers) have
lost their homes, spouses and had to beg for money to pay for their
bills and everyday expenses of having a family."

Judge Cohn and Bullotta spoke Monday to discuss the government's
request and the judge wanted a change in the wording of the request,
defense lawyers said.

Cohn could hold a hearing and order the officers to appear in court
before deciding to approve the request, but his approval is largely a
formality.

In the unlikely event that he opted not to approve the request, the
government could proceed to trial, offer no evidence and then ask the
judge to acquit the officers.

Bullotta didn't return calls seeking comment.

The Detroit Police Officers Association has spent at least $600,000 to
date in defending the officers, and many of the lawyers haven't
submitted final bills.

Of the 19 initially charged, one officer pleaded guilty in November
2003 and two officers pleaded guilty in January. The officer admitted
to violating the civil rights of suspects by writing false police reports.

In April, the government dismissed charges against one officer, Steven
Pardo.

As a result of the investigations, Wayne Circuit judges set aside two
convictions and freed Bruce Toney of Detroit, who spent 18 months in
prison after discounting what prosecutors said was the false testimony
of some Detroit police officers.

Other police misconduct cases and investigations are pending,
including the trial of a former civilian evidence room employee
accused of stealing 222 pounds of cocaine and replacing it with flour.
He was accused of then selling some of the cocaine to drug dealers.

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POLICE CORRUPTION CASE

Seventeen Detroit police officers and two former officers were charged
by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

William Melendez found not guilty

Matthew Zani found not guilty

Jeffrey Weiss found not guilty

Troy Bradley pleaded guilty Jan. 20 to a felony and is awaiting
sentencing. Faces up to 6 months under a plea agreement.

Christopher Ruiz found not guilty

Timothy Gilbert found not guilty

Mark Diaz found not guilty

Jerrod Willis found not guilty

Chris Guinn charges expected to be dismissed

Thomas Turkaly charges expected to be dismissed

Ricardo Villarruel charges expected to be dismissed

John McLeod charges expected to be dismissed

John Watkins charges expected to be dismissed

Denny Borg found not guilty

James Coss charges expected to be dismissed

Stephen Petroff charges expected to be dismissed

Nicole Rich pleaded guilty Jan. 20 to a misdemeanor; faces up to year
when sentenced.

Steven Pardo charges dismissed April 12 at government's
request

Hubert Brown pleaded guilty Nov. 14 to a misdemeanor; awaiting
sentencing.