JAIL OFFICER IN UNIFORM ARRESTED IN DRUG STING

Drane Allegedly Took $100 for Contraband

In the back of a parking lot across from the Lucas County jail, a
county corrections officer in full uniform accepted $100 from an
undercover officer to deliver marijuana and tobacco to an inmate on
Saturday afternoon, a sheriff's director said last night.

This morning that corrections officer, Edward F. Drane, 43, of 251
Graham St., is to appear in Toledo Municipal Court on a felony charge
of bribery filed by the Lucas County Sheriff's Office.

Mr. Drane, who has been a corrections officer for years, spent the
weekend as an inmate in the jail.

"The sheriff's office looks at this as being one of the most serious
violations of the public trust there can be," said Donald Atkinson,
special operations director of the sheriff's office.

Mr. Drane had just finished his work shift at 3:40 p.m. Saturday
when he met with an undercover officer, one of about a dozen officers
- - Toledo Police officers and sheriff's deputies among them - working
on the case, Mr. Atkinson said.

Authorities received information that led them to investigate Mr.
Drane. They have no evidence he was working with any other jail
employees to smuggle contraband, Mr. Atkinson said.

Mr. Drane's salary and employee record were not immediately available.

Mr. Drane was arrested immediately after accepting the cash,
marijuana, and tobacco near 1700 Canton Ave. He was booked into the
jail two and a half hours later while still wearing his uniform.

Booking records said he was to be kept separate from other inmates.