People v. Burden

The defendants have been charged with delivery of controlled substances to Michael Hall, a member of the United States Air Force, who was acting at the time in cooperation with the Michigan State Police. The question is whether the State Police’s use of Hall violated the United States Posse Comitatus Act.1

I

Michael Hall was on active duty with the United States Air Force in 1977; he was stationed at K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base in Marquette County. When a warrant was issued charging him with selling three ounces of marijuana, he agreed to cooperate with the State Police in making purchases of…