WITNESS IN DELTA PROBE RELEASED FROM JAIL

A witness in an ongoing civil rights investigation into the Manatee County
Sheriff's Office's anti-drug unit was ordered released from jail on Monday
because of his cooperation with federal authorities.

Robert Vanaken, 37, was being processed Monday afternoon and was expected to
be released from jail by this morning. A judge ordered his release, but left
him on probation, on Monday morning.

Vanaken, who was serving a year in the Manatee County Jail for missing a
court appearance, has been questioned by federal authorities. Federal
prosecutors are pursuing allegations that former deputies in the sheriff's
Delta Division planted evidence, stole possessions and committed other
crimes when arresting suspects.

Vanaken spoke about allegations that former Delta Division special agent
Christopher Wilson stole a box of cigars from him during a May 1997 arrest.

When asked by Circuit Judge Janette Dunnigan if he had anything to say
during a court appearance, Vanaken replied: "I've cooperated." Dunnigan,
citing Vanaken's cooperation, ordered him released.

Vanaken's attorney, Stephen Walker, confirmed that his client has been and
is working with federal authorities as part of the 22-month-long
investigation of the Delta Division.

"The things that have been publicized are accurate," Walker said. "Beyond
that, I do not have anything more to bring to the court."

Wilson arrested Vanaken on May 29, 1997 on charges of trafficking in
cocaine. Wilson signed his arrest warrant and the search warrant for
Vanaken's house. As the lead investigator, Wilson was responsible for items
taken from the house. He noted two boxes of Cuban cigars among the nine
items seized, according to a search warrant inventory.

Wilson shared the confiscated cigars with other members of the Delta unit,
according to sheriff's deputies who testified before a federal grand jury.

Last October, state prosecutors dropped Vanaken's drug-trafficking charges,
which stemmed from that arrest.

Vanaken is "an important witness" in the investigation into Delta, according
to a letter from Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Del Fuoco to Walker. "The
information Mr. Vanaken has provided has been substantiated and forms the
basis for an important component of the government's ongoing investigation,"
Del Fuoco wrote.

State prosecutors dropped the drug charges against Vanaken after Wayne
Wyckoff, Thomas Wooten and Wilson -- the state's primary witnesses -- were
implicated in wrongdoing, said Assistant State Attorney Brian Iten. That
made their testimony useless, he said.

Vanaken missed a scheduled court appearance before the charges were dropped.
He was serving jail time for that offense when he was ordered released
Monday. Iten did not oppose Vanaken's release and said he did not know
anything about the ongoing investigation by federal authorities.

Wyckoff, Wooten and former special agents Paul D. Maass and Lance Carpenter,
have pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy, drug and civil rights
violations. All are awaiting sentencing.

A former road deputy, Christopher L. Moore, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and
civil rights violations. He is also awaiting sentencing.

Wilson has not been charged by federal prosecutors. At a federal court
hearing last week, Del Fuoco referred to Wilson as a co-conspirator who is
under investigation.

Staff writer Brett Barrouquere can be contacted at 742-6163 and
brett.barrouquere@herald-trib.com.