Ex-officer sentenced to prison in drug case

HIGHLAND PARK (AP) -- A former Highland Park police officer who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion as part of a drug trafficking scheme is heading to prison. The U.S. attorney's office in Detroit says 55-year-old Craig Clayton of Highland Park was sentenced last Thursday to 12 months and one day in prison and two years of supervised release. He was one of four officers in the Detroit enclave charged earlier this year with accepting bribes and conspiring to distribute cocaine. Authorities say Clayton agreed with three other Highland Park police officers to take money in exchange for delivering a shipment of cocaine. Clayton was accused of bringing his badge and gun to protect the shipment, and accepting $1,500 in cash from an FBI informant. Two other officers in the case have pleaded guilty. Published: Mon, Jul 1, 2013