MESA PROBING ARREST ERRORS

2 Victims Filing Claims Against City

The Mesa Police Department, stung by the second case of mistaken identity to
surface in two weeks, on Friday announced that it has launched an internal
audit of all undercover narcotics arrests made in the past four years.

The audit was revealed in a statement issued by Police Chief Jan Strauss in
which she apologized to Jeffery Ja'Mal Brown, 24, of Chandler, who was
arrested in December 1998 and charged with selling crack cocaine. He was
cleared by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office in March.

Two weeks ago, the department apologized to Aaron Markley of Mesa, who had
been arrested by a different officer in February 1999. Markley, who had been
accused of selling methamphetamine, spent $40,000 to clear his name.

In her statement, Strauss offered her "deep regrets," stating, "Mr. Brown's
case, following Mr. Markley's case, is extremely embarrassing for this
department."

Both men have filed multimillion dollar claims against the city.

Because of the mistaken identity issue, Strauss said, the Police Department
will not pursue the drug dealers in the two cases because the arresting
officers no longer have credibility.