!*11 cops & excops busted for drug dealing (GA)
Marpessa Kupendua
)Date: Sun, 14 Sep 1997 23:40:33 -0500
)From: Michael Novick <mnovi...@pop.igc.apc.org>
)Subject: 11 cops & excops busted for drug dealing (GA)
'A sad day for law enforcement'
Five more officers' bonds set Friday in Savannah drug case
By Ben Schmitt / Savannah Morning News
http://www.savannahnow.com/news
A week before he was arrested, Savannah police Sgt. Billy Medlock took an
eight-day leave from work that led him to Jacksonville, Fla., Macon, Tifton
and Hinesville.
Medlock said he needed a break from the police force and Savannah. He went
to visit old friends, popping in on them unexpectedly and staying at
$30-a-night hotels.
But federal prosecutors said they believe Medlock knew he was going to be
arrested Wednesday on charges involving cocaine distribution -- along with
10 other current and former police officers -- and was pondering whether he
would face the charges or flee.
U.S. Magistrate G.R. Smith set a $150,000 bond Friday for Medlock, saying
he felt Medlock posed the likeliest threat of all those charged to run
before going to trial.
''I think the idea of fleeing was in the back of your mind,'' Smith said.
''Just because you turned yourself in doesn't mean that idea won't crop
back up.''
During detention hearings Friday for five of the accused, Smith said his
task was to set bonds for the officers based on their chances of fleeing
and their risk to the community. The weight of the evidence against them
was not a major consideration.
However, plenty of evidence was presented Friday, including videotapes
showing then Savannah police officer Thomas K. Bryant Jr. supposedly
selling cocaine to an FBI informant. Another officer at the time, William
H. Banks, can be seen apparently selling a gun to the informant.
''The evidence is disturbing,'' Smith said. ''It's a sad day for law
enforcement and those who were sworn to uphold the law, and that's a
sobering thought to the community.''
Bryant and Banks' bonds were set at $100,000 each. Two other accused
officers, Damion K. Welcome and Keith J. Coleman, had bonds set at $50,000
each.
Five other officers -- Anthony K. Bryant, Keith London, Christopher H.
Alexander, Frederick Gorham and Eugene M. Johnson -- had bonds set
Wednesday ranging from $35,000-$50,000. Detective Ralph E. Riley waived his
right to a detention hearing and remains in jail.
Smith set out several guidelines for any of the suspects who post bond:
They must stay on house arrest, submit to drug tests and wear an electronic
monitoring device.
Other evidence presented included FBI Special Agent Steven Crum testifying
about how the investigation began leading to the officers' arrest.
Crum said the FBI started receiving reports in early 1994 about corruption
in Savannah's law enforcement community. In 1995, a convicted drug dealer
came to the FBI and offered to assist breaking up the police ring, Crum said.
Soon after, the informant and other undercover agents began setting up
sting operations. In the stings, the police officers are accused of
escorting the people they thought to be drug dealers into and out of town
during staged drug deals.
The Bryant brothers, Banks and Alexander are accused of providing security
for the fake drug traffickers from December 1995 to January 1997.
Coleman and Welcome are accused along with Gorham and Johnson of conducting
similar protection activities from November 1996 to March 1997. The FBI
stopped activities with them after becoming concerned about the safety of
their informant, Crum testified.
Medlock and Riley face similar accusations from March to August 1997.
Packages of FBI-seized cocaine weighing 4.7 kilograms were used in the
various deals, agents testified.
Some of the officers also are accused of selling stolen guns to the
undercover agents.
In an FBI videotape of Thomas Bryant selling a gun to the informant, Bryant
says, ''I hope the mother f----- got sense to ditch a gun if he shoots
someone with it.''
On another occasion, Thomas Bryant goes to the informant's apartment and
can be seen on videotape selling him what appears to be 8 grams of cocaine
for $400. Bryant, dressed in his police uniform, explains to the informant
on video that he got the drugs from a dealer during a raid. The two sample
the cocaine's authenticity by placing a tiny bit on their tongues.
After the various pieces of evidence were presented, some family members
spoke to the judge on behalf of their loved-ones. Most tried to convince
Smith the accused officers weren't flight risks.
Gloria Coleman, Banks' girlfriend, said he is a ''devoted father to his
children and a very good person.''
More than 20 friends and family members stood up in court on Thomas
Bryant's behalf.
''All of them would testify that he has no reputation for violence and has
strong family ties,'' said his attorney, Sage Brown.
Attorney Diane Morrell said she was working with family members to post
Coleman's $50,000 bond.
''We're very happy that he has an opportunity to post it,'' she said.
Medlock -- the only officer to testify Friday -- broke down in tears when
he took the witness stand and was asked to point out his family members in
the courtroom.
Afterward, Medlock's attorney said he planned to meet with family members
to see if they can post some property to meet his client's bond.
''We're going to give it our best shot,'' Allen said.
Web posted 9/14/97
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