ACLU HELPS WOMAN GET MONEY BACK

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) The Rhode Island Affiliate of the American Civil
Liberties Union is representing a woman who says she lost money while
a victim of a bogus drug arrest.

In 1995, Luz Rivera was arrested by the Attorney General's narcotics
Strike Force and charged with drug dealing. She spent over three
months in jail.

The charge was dismissed after she proved she was at work at the time
of the alleged drug deal, which reportedly took place in her
Providence apartment, the ACLU says.

In 1996, after the charges were dismissed, Rivera asked the state to
return $860 taken from her apartment after a police search. She had
obtained a court order requiring the state to return the money.

Rivera contacted the ACLU when she was not able to her get money back.
The ACLU threatened to file a contempt order against the state if it
did not return the money.

Last week, the attorney general's office filed a motion to have the
1996 order declared null and void. The state says Rivera's money was
lawfully forfeited, the ACLU says.

A hearing on the state's motion is scheduled for Thursday morning in
Rhode Island Superior Court.