270 drug cases dropped by Philly DA

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PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- The Philadelphia district attorney said he's dropping some 270 drug prosecutions because of unspecified misconduct by the arresting officers.

The mass dismissal is one of the largest in Philadelphia history and exceeds an epic scandal in the late 1990s surrounding corruption at the 39th Police District station that led to 250 prosecutions abandoned.

District Attorney Seth Williams said any charges stemming from arrests made by six narcotics investigators are being dropped, though previously convicted individuals will not see their sentences automatically commuted.

Police department officials have not said what the six officers in question are believed to have done, but each has been transferred to a new station. All are in good standing with the department and no criminal charges have been filed.