Muslim Man Claims Federal Officials Wanted Him to Infiltrate Islamic Center
January 14, 2004
Police Allegedly Falsified Report to Force His Cooperation
By MEGAN LYNCH KMOX News
The U.S. Attorney's Office Wednesday dismissed weapons charges against a St. Louis man who claimed he was set up by police so federal officials would have an informant in the Islamic community.
Last fall, Abu Bakr Ladd was arrested as a felon in possession of a firearm when a police raid turned up a pistol and two .22 rifles inside his North St. Louis home. But Ladd, who said he was only trying to protect his family in one of the city's toughest neighborhoods, also argued that the search warrant was based on a fabricated police report, which said a patrol officer had spotted Ladd dealing drugs on September 19th.
"According to the report, that officer came on duty at three in the afternoon," Ladd told KMOX News. "At that time, I was either in Kentucky, or on the highway driving to Kentucky for a family reunion."
When he produced travel receipts confirming his alibi, Ladd says the U.S. Attorney's office offered to drop the gun charge, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, if Ladd would infiltrate the St. Louis Islamic Center. Ladd refused.
The U.S. Attorney's office is limiting comment on Ladd's case to the facts contained in court filings. The St. Louis Police Department has not yet responded to KMOX's request for comment on Ladd's claim a detective falsified a report.
January 14, 2004
Police Allegedly Falsified Report to Force His Cooperation
By MEGAN LYNCH KMOX News
The U.S. Attorney's Office Wednesday dismissed weapons charges against a St. Louis man who claimed he was set up by police so federal officials would have an informant in the Islamic community.
Last fall, Abu Bakr Ladd was arrested as a felon in possession of a firearm when a police raid turned up a pistol and two .22 rifles inside his North St. Louis home. But Ladd, who said he was only trying to protect his family in one of the city's toughest neighborhoods, also argued that the search warrant was based on a fabricated police report, which said a patrol officer had spotted Ladd dealing drugs on September 19th.
"According to the report, that officer came on duty at three in the afternoon," Ladd told KMOX News. "At that time, I was either in Kentucky, or on the highway driving to Kentucky for a family reunion."
When he produced travel receipts confirming his alibi, Ladd says the U.S. Attorney's office offered to drop the gun charge, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, if Ladd would infiltrate the St. Louis Islamic Center. Ladd refused.
The U.S. Attorney's office is limiting comment on Ladd's case to the facts contained in court filings. The St. Louis Police Department has not yet responded to KMOX's request for comment on Ladd's claim a detective falsified a report.
