Pubdate: Tue, 20 Jul 2004 Source: Flint Journal (MI) Copyright: 2004 Flint Journal Contact: http://www.flintjournal.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/836 Note: Prefers to print letters from people in the area of The Flint Journal Author: Ken Palmer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?420 (Cannabis - Popular) Cop Faces Drug Rap FLINT OFFICER DISCOVERED WITH MARIJUANA IN NOVEMBER FLINT - A former Flint police officer will be in court today on charges he was found with packaged marijuana just two months after he was acquitted of pistol-whipping an 11-year-old boy. Lawrence E. Thomas was arrested in November after a search by Flint officers turned up packaged marijuana. Genesee County Prosecutor Arthur A. Busch said at the time police found a large quantity of marijuana packaged to sell. Thomas was fired by the city in December but was not arraigned until Friday. It was unclear why there was an 8-month delay between his arrest and arraignment on charges of marijuana delivery, possession with intent to deliver marijuana, carrying a concealed weapon, maintaining a drug vehicle and felony firearm possession. "I don't want anybody to think we don't take these situations seriously. It hurts all of us. It hurts me and everyone else in the department," said Flint Police Chief Gary Hagler. Thomas deserves the same presumption of innocence in the court process as anyone else, Hagler said. A Genesee Circuit Court jury cleared Thomas in September of charges he struck a boy in the head with a pistol after the boy allegedly threw a snowball at his car. The 12-year police veteran said he may have accidentally struck the boy but denied threatening him. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake