BRADLEY COULD GET 20 YEARS

Ark. Panel Acquits Applegate

LITTLE ROCK - A former West Memphis police sergeant accused of taking money
from suspected drug couriers faces a possible 20 years in prison after he
was convicted Friday by a federal court jury.

Former sergeant Edwin A. 'Tony' Bradley, 42, was found guilty of conspiring
to violate the civil rights of motorists and of stealing FBI sting money.
His co-defendant, former officer Joseph W. Applegate, was acquitted of the
single conspiracy charge he faced.

Juror Carol Gilbreath of Morrilton said the FBI case against Applegate just
"wasn't air-tight. They made a lot of messups, and you have to convict
beyond a reasonable doubt."

The jury deliberated for eight hours over three days before reaching its
verdict Friday afternoon.

West Memphis Police Chief Robert Paudert, who went to the FBI with
suspicions about corruption among some of his drug interdiction officers
shortly after his appointment in 1999, said the guilty verdict against
Bradley was a vindication.

"Like I've said before, the actions of a few tarnish all law enforcement,"
he said. "We're going to send a very strong message over here in West
Memphis that we're not going to tolerate corruption any longer."

Applegate, 32, shook hands with Bradley after the verdicts were read.

Bradley wore a pained expression but maintained his composure. An elderly
family member collapsed outside the courtroom, wailing.

Bradley quickly left the courtroom. The date for his sentencing has not
been set.

Outside the courtroom, a teary-eyed Applegate told reporters: "It feels
good that, basically, the jury will set you free."

However, federal prosecutors have three more chances to put Applegate
behind bars.

He's facing three more jury trials this year, including one scheduled for
Feb. 10 in which he's accused of similar conduct while serving as a
Crittenden County sheriff's deputy. Former deputy Louis F. Pirani and his
brother Steven Pirani are also charged in that case.

The jury of six women and six men heard testimony and arguments over seven
days before beginning their deliberations Wednesday evening.

Evidence presented against both men indicated that they reported finding
drug residue in a vehicle they stopped in March of 2001. They also found
$45,000 in the vehicle.

What they didn't know at the time was that the vehicle's occupants were
undercover FBI agents who were targeting the police officers in a sting
operation.

The officers later filed a report indicating that Applegate's drug-sniffing
dog "alerted" to drug residue in the vehicle, although the FBI agents
testified at the trial that no drugs were present.

In July, both men were present during what the government contends was the
illegal search of another FBI sting vehicle containing $43,000 at the
Southland Greyhound Park in West Memphis.

The evidence suggested Bradley helped himself to at least $2,500 of the
$43,000 left in the rental car. It was recovered from a cash bank deposit
he made just 40 minutes before federal agents searched his house, where
they also found more of their marked bills.

In a search of Applegate's apartment, agents found $26,629 in cash, but
none from the sting.

FBI agent Michael T. Patkus testified this week that Applegate acknowledged
that the rental car at the dog track was never field-tested for drugs,
although a police report said it had tested positive for marijuana.

The FBI videotaped the officers' search of the rental car and the tape
showed Bradley opening its trunk before Applegate's dog was brought in to
sniff it for drugs.

FBI witnesses said they began looking into alleged cash-skimming from
Interstate 40 motorists after complaints from public officials, including
at least one unidentified judge.

Crittenden County accounts for most of the cash seized statewide.

In 1993, a previously constituted drug unit made up of West Memphis and
sheriff's department personnel was the subject of an investigation by the
Arkansas State Police.

Authorities found that officers, including Bradley, kept guns confiscated
from suspects, but no one was prosecuted.