Pubdate: Thu, 03 Oct 2002
Source: Fayetteville Observer-Times (NC)
Copyright: 2002 Fayetteville Observer-Times
Contact:  http://www.fayettevillenc.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/150
Author: James Locklear

DRUG-DEAL CHARGES DROPPED

LUMBERTON - Superior Court Judge Gregory Weeks has thrown out evidence in a 
case against suspected drug dealers after learning an investigator provided 
false statements to obtain a search warrant.

On Sept. 16, Weeks ruled that sheriff's Lt. C.T. Strickland obtained the 
illegal warrant after he "knowingly" gave false statements to Magistrate 
Tom Espey. Strickland wanted the warrant to search a dwelling near Red 
Springs in February.

Two men, Christopher Dean Logan and Gary "Pee Wee" McLean, were charged 
with selling cocaine after a search of a home they share on Samuel Drive in 
the Bottom area near Red Springs.

District Attorney Johnson Britt dropped the charges against the men.

"It ends up being a bad case, and it leaves us with nothing to prosecute," 
Britt said.

Strickland supervises the sheriff's drug enforcement division.

Strickland, who has been with the department since 1988, said, "Our 
information relies on the informant. In most cases in the same scenario we 
are relying on informants as part of the investigation."

Strickland, who was at work Wednesday, did not comment on the search 
warrant. Sheriff Glenn Maynor also declined to comment.

Lumberton lawyer Carlton Mansfield represents Logan and McLean.

"Everything that needed to be in the search warrant was in there, but it 
was a lie," he said.

According to court records, Strickland told Espey he had information about 
illegal drug activity at the home. He said the information came from an 
informant who made a buy "under my direct supervision."

Strickland swore under oath that the informant had been to the home several 
times and saw crack cocaine being sold there. Strickland said the informant 
has provided reliable information about drug dealers in Robeson County, 
according to court documents.

Weeks ruled that Strickland did not witness a drug transaction. Weeks wrote 
that the informant had not been to the house before and had never seen the 
men sell crack cocaine until Strickland sent her there. He said Strickland 
had met the informant the day before the purchase and had never worked with 
her.

Mansfield said the informant contacted him because she thought Strickland 
had used her.

Britt said, "I've never been involved in a situation where anything like 
this has arisen," he said. "I'm disappointed in the procedures that were 
followed."
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