MD. STATE POLICE SUED OVER CAR-SEARCH POLICY

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, February 14, 1993                   TAG: 9302140190
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BALTIMORE                                LENGTH: Short
MD. STATE POLICE SUED OVER CAR-SEARCH POLICY
The American Civil Liberties Union is suing the Maryland State Police, claiming troopers use racially biased drug-courier profiles to stop, detain and search black motorists.
"By using a race-based profile, the Maryland State Police are telling us that they think a person's skin color is an accurate predictor of his or her propensity to commit a crime," said ACLU attorney Deborah A. Jeon.
Capt. Johnny Hughes, a state police spokesman, said he couldn't comment on the lawsuit but insisted the agency does not use any type of drug courier profile.
The federal lawsuit was filed on behalf of Robert L. Wilkins, of Washington, Norman Scott El-Amin, of Woodbridge, Va., Nu'Man W. El-Amin, of Alexandria, Va., and Aquila Abdullah, of Alexandria, Va.
The four relatives, all black, were driving home from a funeral in Chicago when Trooper Bryan W. Hughes stopped their car on Interstate 68 for alleged speeding.
The ACLU claims police target young black men wearing jewelry, carrying beepers or driving expensive cars.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB