Jagger police file released

[Tom]

LONDON -- Today, he's respectable Sir Mick. But 35 years ago, Mick Jagger was a rock rebel who could rattle the authorities.

 

Newly released police files show that in 1969, police considered Jagger an "intelligent young man" who lived on the fringe and consorted with "the dregs of society."

 

The records, declassified by Britain's National Archives, detail Jagger's claim that detectives planted drugs during a raid on his London apartment in 1969. The Rolling Stones singer was fined L200 (about $575 Cdn at the time) for possession of cannabis after the raid.

 

The Metropolitan Police investigated Jagger's claim that a drug squad officer, Det. Sgt. Robin Constable, had tried to plant white powder inside a box in the house.

 

"I think he put the box down and opened the folded paper. He said 'Ah, ah, we won't have to look much further,' " Jagger told police. "As I got to him he showed me the paper and I saw it contained some white powder. I said, 'You bastard, you planted me with heroin.' "

 

Jagger claimed Constable then said, "Don't worry, Mick, we can sort it all out."

 

"He twice asked me how much it was worth. He then said 'a thousand,' but I never replied," Jagger said.

 

Scotland Yard launched an investigation, interviewing supporters of Jagger, ranging from a lawyer and a member of Parliament to minor drug dealers.

 

"The private persons interviewed during the course of this investigation represent extreme ends of the scale," noted Cmdr. Robert Huntley, who oversaw the inquiry.

 

The investigation concluded there was no "substantial corroborative evidence" for Jagger's claim against the "hardworking and competent police officer (Constable)."

 

"Michael Jagger is an intelligent young man and doubtless is on the fringe, if not embroiled in the world of users of dangerous drugs," said Det. Chief Insp. William Wilson.

 

The case was referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who concluded no action should be taken against the police.

 

Author:The London Free Press

Date:03-08-2005

Source:The London Free Press

Copyright: © The London Free Press