Pubdate: Tue, 09 Aug 2005
Source: Palm Beach Post, The (FL)
Copyright: 2005 The Palm Beach Post
Contact:  http://www.palmbeachpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/333
Author: Rochelle E.B. Gilken, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1262/a05.html

POLICE TIGHT-LIPPED ON DRUG CASE KILLING

In a motel parking lot, a man with a badge pulled the trigger of his gun,
killing a man police cannot name.

Four days later, none of the law-enforcement agencies that were at the drug
sting will take responsibility for the shooting, and investigators say they
still don't know who was shot.

The only information released from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office,
Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement is that a law-enforcement officer felt threatened and shot a
man at 1:06 a.m. during an undercover investigation.

"We haven't positively identified that individual," said Palm Beach County
sheriff's spokesman Paul Miller, whose department is investigating the
shooting.

Officials said the triggerman was a local law-enforcement officer -- but
not a deputy -- involved with the sheriff's organized-crime bureau.

Little else is known about the confrontation between police and the drug
suspect in the parking lot of the Days Inn at 2300 45th St. in West Palm Beach.

Even the city's police department didn't know something went down until
almost an hour later.

"Normally, if they're gonna come into our city and do an operation, we get
a courtesy call or a heads up," said Police Chief Delsa Bush. "First, they
would give us a notice so we don't intrude upon their operation. Secondly,
in case something bad happens, we would be available for backup."

County and federal officials have jurisdiction in the city and are not
required to notify local police, but Bush said she cannot recall another
time when a law enforcement agency was there unannounced.

"I'm not going to demand any explanation.... It was probably an oversight,"
she said. "I still have not a clue as to what happened with the shooting."
She said she has a "good working relationship" with the sheriff and the
DEA, and plans to bring it up at their next meetings.

DEA spokeswoman Jeanette Moran said the agency usually informs local police
of its presence, "depending on what they're doing."

Records show one arrest on federal drug charges that morning. Mickey Miles,
23, of New Jersey, was booked into Palm Beach County Jail early Friday,
charged with conspiring to import 400 pounds of marijuana.

Moran said the DEA would not release any information because of the ongoing
drug investigation.

Miller would not name the shooter. The organized-crime bureau is a
coalition of county law enforcement officials, but Miller would not say
what police agency the shooter works for.

The man he shot was picked up by West Palm Beach Fire-Rescue at 1:10 a.m.
and taken to St. Mary's Medical Center, where he died, spokesman Phil
Kaplan said.

Miller said he could not confirm the victim's identity. He released a
report on the incident with the victim's name, date of birth and address
crossed out.

"We're not sure if it's that person yet. That doesn't necessarily mean we
had the right person," Miller said.

He said there was no fingerprint match and "some" efforts to contact family
members failed. He also said he has to be cautious about releasing names
because this is a sensitive federal investigation. He said this is not
unusual if a victim lives out of state.

But a media law expert said the hold-up is unusual -- and unnecessary.

"That delay should be very brief and solely a matter of hours and not
days," said Sam Terilli, a professor at the University of Miami. "Someone
has been shot and killed, apparently by police, in a Florida community.
People in Florida have a right to know what happened. Otherwise we're
allowing government to kill people and withhold that information.... That's
very, very dangerous, even if done for the best of intentions. We don't
allow secret justice because that too often turns into secret injustice. " 
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