Jul 15, 2008 1:45 pm US/Central
Cop Accused Of Selling Info To Suspected Criminal
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―
A Minneapolis police officer accused of selling information to someone he thought was a gang member pleaded not guilty to three federal charges of corruption.
In his first court appearance after being indicted Monday, Minneapolis Police officer Michael Roberts responded to charges that allege he sold license plate information for $100.
The charges say Roberts used a law enforcement computer last August to obtain the information he then gave to someone who admitted to Roberts to being a member of the Disciples street gang.
Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan said the allegations "shed doubt on anyone who wears a badge." Dolan said he'll wait for the case to proceed to offer much further in the way of comment.
Roberts' attorney said his client was targeted.
"He did not solicit this guy to come to him. He did not solicit any money from this guy. It was the government who was calling this guy and talking to this guy on the phone, asking Michael to answer questions while he was with him," said attorney F. Clayton Tyler. "It's a typical case of entrapment."
Roberts has been on paid administrative leave since April. He will next appear in court in mid-August.
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