EX-OFFICER ADMITS TO EXTORTING CASH, DRUGS

Indictment: Shakedown Occurred at Traffic Stop.

SOUTH BEND -- A former South Bend police officer has admitted to
extorting drugs and money during a traffic stop in 2005.

Haven Freeman, 31, pleaded guilty to a charge of using his official
position to unlawfully demand property from a person and also to
possession of heroin with intent to distribute.

He entered into the plea agreement with the government rather than go
on trial this week.

A federal grand jury indicted Freeman in March on three counts.

In the plea agreement, Freeman admitted he made a traffic stop in the
summer of 2005 of a vehicle from Illinois that he believed was about
to make a drug delivery based on information he had received from a
local drug dealer.

Freeman said he told the vehicle's occupants that if they gave him
their drugs and money he would not arrest them or separate one person
from his or her child.

According to the plea agreement, Freeman received several thousand
dollars and a quantity of a drug he knew to be heroin or cocaine.

Freeman admitted that after he let the car go, he turned the drugs
over to a drug dealer in South Bend. The controlled substance turned
out to be less than 100 grams of heroin.

A third charge of carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime
will be dismissed at the time of sentencing, according to the
agreement. Freeman faces up to 40 years in prison and fines up to
$1.25 million when he is sentenced Dec. 4.

The plea agreement calls for Freeman to receive a lesser sentence
because he accepted responsibility with his guilty plea.

He remains free on an unsecured $25,000 bond.

Freeman resigned as an officer in March 2006 after an internal
investigation. He served 3 1/2 years with the department.