Pubdate: Thu, 26 Aug 2004
Source: Courier-Journal, The (KY)
Copyright: 2004 The Courier-Journal
Contact:  http://www.courier-journal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/97
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids)

MAN WRONGLY ACCUSED IN DRUG RAID

EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Federal authorities have acknowledged they wrongly
arrested an Evansville businessman in a drug raid last month.

The Drug Enforcement Administration said Tuesday that one of the 37
people charged with participating in a drug ring that distributed $30
million worth of cocaine, heroin and marijuana in Southern Indiana was
falsely using the name of Charles Hall, 42.

"As soon as we realized we made a mistake, we moved to correct it,"
said Armand McClintock, head of the Indiana office of the DEA. "The
last thing we want to do is arrest an innocent man."

Hall said it's the second time in less than a year that he has been
arrested by drug agents because of mistaken identity.

Most recently, on July 16, authorities burst into the
temporary-staffing business he owns and arrested him in front of his
employees.

"To say it's embarrassing is an understatement," Hall said. "Actually,
I live in fear it will happen again."

Hall said his four children have been taunted by schoolmates. Even
people in his church don't believe him, he said. "They keep saying,
`We're praying for you,' even after I tell them it was all a mistake."

After his arrest, Hall was taken to the federal courthouse in
Evansville. He never appeared in court. He was released and told that
the charges had been dropped. But his name was on the list of
defendants given to reporters at a press conference later on the day
of his arrest.
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