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    New Baltimore Police Scandal Threatens Criminal Cases

    More than 40 criminal cases have been dropped in Baltimore after police body cameras show officers there allegedly planting drug evidence. Public defenders say hundreds more could be dismissed.
    by Eric Westervelt Aug 08, 2017 5 minutes
    Body camera footage of a Baltimore police operation released by the public defender's office appears to show an officer hiding drugs and later discovering them while two other officers watched.

    Public defenders in Baltimore say hundreds of criminal cases could be tossed out after two incidents discovered on police body cameras this summer show officers allegedly planting drug evidence.

    So far some 40 criminal cases have been dropped, mostly involving drug and weapons-related felonies.

    But lawyers there say that's just the beginning.

    "I would say there are hundreds and hundreds of cases directly affected between the two cases," Debbie Katz Levi, director of special litigation for Baltimore's Office of the Public Defender tells NPR. "I think it's safe to say if you included all of the officers, you're probably at around 500 cases."

    The Baltimore police internal affairs office is investigating. The Baltimore City State's Attorney's office says "we are currently reviewing numbers."

    "These officers are employed by the Baltimore Police, the State's Attorney for Baltimore City.

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