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Prosecutors drop 119 cases involving deputy facing probe

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Posted at 1:46 PM, Sep 26, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-26 13:46:00-04

MARIANNA, Fla. (AP) - Prosecutors in a Florida Panhandle jurisdiction say they are dropping charges in 119 cases after finishing a review of the arrests made by a deputy who is under investigation for allegedly planting drugs on people during traffic stops.

The Tallahassee Democrat reports that the charges in Florida's 14th Judicial Circuit ranged from traffic offenses to felonies.

All of the cases involved former Deputy Zachary Wester who was fired earlier this month for violating agency policy.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has launched an investigation at the request of the Jackson County Sheriff's Office. The investigation remains open and no charges have been filed.

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Information from: Tallahassee (Fla.) Democrat, http://www.tdo.com

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