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No training. A botched drug sting. A dead 23-year-old college graduate.
But authorities in Tallahassee, Fla., have yet to take any action against the police responsible for an undercover operation that led to the death of Rachel Hoffman, a recent graduate of Florida State University.
Police Chief Dennis Jones, interviewed for tonight's 20/20 broadcast, says he does not accept that his department is in any way responsible for the death of the young woman.
The police have said they offered Hoffman a deal: if she worked as a confidential informant, the state attorney would "decide how to balance your assistance with your crime."
*****SKIP*****
According to friends of Hoffman's in whom she confided, Block said, police told her she faced as much as four years in prison if she did not accept the offer.
"They told her 'it will all go away,' if you help us get some bad guys off the street," Block said.
But State Attorney Willie Meggs has said his office was not informed of the deal, and it was inappropriate for police to offer such an arrangement without a prosecuting attorney involved.
Drug court officials have criticized the police's use of Hoffman as an informant. At the time they searched her house, Hoffman was in a court-ordered drug treatment program after police found 26 grams of marijuana in her car.
"It is my strong preference that the people who are in drug court not be around this kind of thing," state prosecutor Owen McCaul told the Tallahassee Democrat. And a local public defender told the paper there was an "informal practice" that people in drug court don't act as informants, "the thinking being that someone in drug court is trying to get away from drug activity and drug use."
Attorney Block said Rachel had no prior relationship with the men, as he believes the police have suggested, but learned of them through an intermediary, who told her about them while she was assisting the police.
Originally posted by xmotex
Chief Jones ought to be looking for a new job.
This is beyond the pale...
Originally posted by zerbot565
im just supriced they even go that far over there, heck ,
they are the once that should be doing the buying and putting their life on the line , thats what they signed up for in all consent.
weak a** cowars , thats what they are
well atleast here where i live , they are not alowed to do things like that ,
its against the law.
either you have a valid lead and you work on it or you get a valid lead, legaly
cops selling drugs and busting you later is almost as sick as doctors that dont cure you but insted let the illness grow so they have jobs in the future,...
for some reason i sometimes understand irans way of handeling certain criminals or thouse other contries that chop your hands of or feet.