[August 18, 2011] Indicted officer says search warrants handled properly Tweet Aug 18, 2011 (Tulsa World - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Tulsa Police Officer Jeff Henderson continued his defense testimony Thursday, saying he gained corroborating evidence to support informant tips in obtaining search warrants. Henderson, 38, has been on the force for 16 years and received many commendations and awards. He faces 53 federal charges alleging civil rights violations and other crimes including witness tampering, drug conspiracy and drug distribution. Thursday marks the 14th day of the trial. Henderson's co-defendant, Officer Bill Yelton, 50, is charged with eights counts that involve suborning perjury, witness tampering and attempted retaliation against a witness. Yelton's defense rested its case Monday. Two key informants, Rochelle Martin and Ryan Logsdon, previously testified they were not the informants the officers said they used to gain search warrants. Henderson testified Wednesday that he had 60 to 70 informants and 30 to 40 "reliable confidential informants" in investigations. He said he verified leads with other corroborating work such as surveillance or a records search. Martin previously testified she did not provide specific information on drug activity. Martin admitted she sold crack cocaine for many years. Henderson testified Thursday he would often call Martin to confirm leads he would receive on suspected drug dealers. He said she would sometimes know the person and verify the information. Henderson gave an overview of the search warrant used in July 2007 in the arrest of Elton Shaw on drug charges. He said Logsdon and Martin were informants. Martin claims she doesn't know Shaw. Prosecutors allege Henderson made up information to secure the warrant. Defense attorney Robert Wyatt IV presented phone records showing calls were made to and from Logsdon and Martin on that day. Henderson said he conducted surveillance as well. "It was a lawful search, a lawful arrest with a lawful search warrant," Henderson said. Henderson said a similar situation occurred in the searches and arrests of Corey Smith and Dustin Shelley. He said Logsdon provided the initial information in detail and Martin confirmed. Henderson said Logsdon had consistently given him true and correct information to the best of his knowledge. Previously, former ATF agent Brandon McFadden testified he was at the house of Jose Angel Gonzalez when Henderson and two other Tulsa officers hid a gun. He said the officers entered the home without permission and allegedly hid a gun in a vent. "Brandon lied," Henderson said. Gonzalez was stopped and officers found marijuana. About a week later, a search warrant was executed and an illegal gun was found. Henderson said he obtained the warrant based on Logsdon's tip that he saw marijuana in the residence. He said no officers had been in the home prior to executing the search warrant. In previous testimony, Martin said she did not know Carah Bartel or William Kinnard. Also, the couple testified they have never seen or heard of Martin. The two were arrested for possessing and selling ecstasy out of an apartment near Harvard Avenue and 51st Street. Henderson said Martin called him on his day of to tip him to drug sales by the couple. He said Martin met him and officer Frank Khalil and showed him the apartment and described the couple living there. Another informant, Amity Bruce, did not provide information for that search warrant, he said. Martin and her boyfriend, Demario Oates, were arrested in 2008 after Tulsa police executed a search warrant at their home and found cocaine. Henderson said he was not aware of the warrant, and officers did not know Martin was his informant. He said the Tulsa officer later apologized to him for the search and arrest of Martin. After Martin bonded out, she called Henderson. "All the work she had done for me -- 10 years, or eight years at that point -- meant something to me," Henderson said. "I was going to help her get out of the charges." Henderson said the assistant district attorney, Tony Evans, and the arresting officers had " no problem" with dropping her charges. Oates is serving a prison sentence for distributing cocaine. "I didn't know Demario Oates and didn't care about Demario Oates," Henderson said. "He didn't do anything for me or the community. He was a dope dealer." Henderson said prosecutors and officers believed Martin was going to have to "work off the charges." Henderson said one of Martin's first actions was to turn over information on Otis Colbert, who was arrested on drug charges based on information she provided. Henderson said Martin did not call or speak directly with his partner, Yelton. "I'm the handler, I'm the controller. She's my informant," Henderson said. "When she's in the car, she is speaking to both of us." Prosecutors allege Yelton used information to obtain search warrant falsely attributed to Martin. Martin earlier testified she never spoke to Yelton. During a "rash of shootings" and crime, Henderson said he called Martin to see if she had any information about activity at the Towne Square apartments. "Rochelle Martin got to work on it immediately," Henderson said. Defense attorneys provided phone records showing calls made between Henderson and Martin in the days leading up to the search warrant and arrest of Nathan Sanders. Henderson said Martin pointed to the apartment where Sanders lived and said drugs were being sold there. He said he provided surveillance as well. Check back at Tulsaworld.com for updates to this story. To see more of the Tulsa World, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.tulsaworld.com. Copyright (c) 2011, Tulsa World, Okla. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. 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