Prosecutors drop cases due to deputy's conduct

PONTIAC (AP) -- Oakland County prosecutors have dropped 16 drug cases after an investigation found that a deputy on the county's narcotics enforcement team falsified a search warrant and lied under oath. Prosecutor Jessica Cooper says Marc Ferguson opened a shipping container without a search warrant in June 2011 and later denied on the witness stand that he had done so. Drug trafficking charges were dropped in the case. Prosecutors then went through 100 pending drug cases involving Ferguson and dismissed 15 cases in which he was central to the investigation. The Detroit Free Press reported Tuesday that Ferguson was fired in December and has filed a grievance to get his job back. No criminal charges have been brought against him. The Associated Press wasn't able to reach Ferguson for comment. Published: Thu, Jan 31, 2013