It's Just a Plant(ed Drug Nightmare)

In July 2004, Las Vegas police arrested a man named Mark Lilly, alleging he attempted to sell them drugs. The drugs turned out to be fake, so he was charged with attempting to sell them fake drugs. (Really.) But things went from bad to worse -- and unbelievable to surreal -- for Lilly.

Then canine officer David Newton placed real drugs in Lilly's car as a training exercise for his dog, but forgot to retrieve the packet of cocaine, police said.

Other officers who later searched his vehicle arrested Lilly for possession of illegal drugs.

Newton later discovered the mistake and tried to correct it by sending a notice to a prosecutor, but internal affairs investigators concluded the notice never reached the prosecutor.

Though Lilly pleaded guilty to selling fake drugs, Las Vegas police have agreed to pay him almost $25,000 for his nightmare. And in spite of a police citizen-review board's recommendation that two of the three officers involved be fired, they -- along with another officer -- received only suspensions and returned to the force. The department claims it stopped planting drugs in suspects' cars last year.

More here.