OFFICER ACCUSED OF FRAMING IMMIGRANTS INDICTED AGAIN

DALLAS - A Dallas narcotics detective acquitted in a federal trial last
year was indicted on state felony charges for allegedly helping frame
Mexican immigrants for drug crimes.

Senior police Cpl. Mark De La Paz was charged Thursday with seven counts of
tampering with physical evidence. The indictments allege he knowingly
submitted false police reports and other documents in cases where the
immigrants were arrested on false drug charges.

The panel also indicted a former narcotics officer, Jeff Haywood, who was
charged with three counts of tampering with physical evidence. Haywood left
the department in October 2001.

The state charges are the first from a four-month investigation by Dan
Hagood, a former local prosecutor chosen in December by Dallas County
District Attorney Bill Hill to investigate the bogus arrests.

More than 80 cases were dismissed after tests revealed the purported drugs
were actually gypsum powder or other legal substances.

De La Paz was acquitted in federal court in November of charges he
submitted false reports and lied to FBI agents. He was the arresting
officer in several of the dismissed cases.

"Mark will emerge vindicated again," said his attorney, Paul Coggins,
adding that he is surprised to see Hagood "relitigating."

De La Paz remains on administrative leave from the Dallas Police Department.