Legislation Aims To Stop Cops From Using Underage Informants

LANSING (AP/WWJ) - A lawmaker wants to restrict the use of children in police drug stings after authorities in suburban Detroit used a 14-year-old boy to help bust a suspected drug dealer.

Republican state Sen. Mike Kowall of Oakland County's White Lake Township told the Detroit Free Press for a Friday story he's crafting legislation to address the use of juveniles as confidential informants.

Some other states have similar laws. Draft legislation could be ready this month.

"There have been kids as young as 13 working as undercover drug informants and they have been key to solving crimes, but many say these middle schoolers are too young to be thrown into these dangerous situations," said WWJ legal analyst Charlie Langton.

The legislation comes after police said they made the right decision to use the boy in a March sting.

The sting came to light after a 35-year-old parolee was arrested for trying to sell marijuana in a Lake Orion park.

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