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Minneapolis cop claims he was set up, defense to argue entrapment
A long time Minneapolis police officer is claiming entrapment in the government's case against him; a case which involves giving secret information to a gang member. Click here to read the indictment against Roberts For nearly 30 years, Michael Roberts served the public as a Minneapolis police officer. "Working in the community, doing community policing," says F. Clayton Tyler, Roberts' attorney, of his client's work. But now federal authorities accuse the veteran cop of betraying the public trust allegedly for a $200 dollar pay-off. According to the federal indictment, in August 2007, Roberts met twice with a self-proclaimed gang member named T.T. Prosecutors say Roberts gave T.T. non-public information from the state driver's license database. T.T. allegedly gave Roberts a hundred dollars. And a few days later, T.T. allegedly gave him another hundred bucks after prosecutors say Roberts gave the gang member more information, this time from a Minneapolis police database, which is also considered non-public. It turns out T.T. was a federal informant. Prosecutors say Roberts suspected that and tried to cover his tracks by filing a false police report, explaining how he got the money. In federal court Tuesday Roberts pleaded not guilty to three corruption charges. His attorney says Roberts was set-up. "He did not solicit this guy to come from him. He did not solicit any money from this guy," says Tyler. "We're going to try this case to a jury. Typical case of entrapment." Officer Roberts, who worked in the 4th precinct, has been on paid leave since the federal investigation surfaced last April. At the time, Lt. Lee Edwards was also under scrutiny with reports he too was a target in a federal probe. Edwards also remains on leave. There have been no charges filed yet in that case which is still open - a case that has continued to generate criticism by some about police chief Tim Dolan, alleging discrimination within the police department. Today, Dolan responded to Officer Roberts' indictment and the criticism. "We look at the fact that in the last two years over 15 officers have been terminated or resigned while under investigation. That number has not been disproportionate for people of color," says Chief Dolan. "Although we need to wait for this case to proceed through the criminal justice system, I want to assure our residents that the Minneapolis Police Department demands the highest level of professionalism from our officers." Officer Michael Roberts has been with the Minneapolis Police Department since 1980. His personnel record shows he was suspended for 10 hours in 1996 for violating department rules and regulations, but it doesn't say exactly what he is accused of doing. There are also two letters of reprimand in his report along with several letters of commendation. Roberts's federal trial is scheduled for November.
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