Shock Video: Business Owner's Surveillance Cameras Seem to Catch Undercover Police Agent Planting the Crack That Landed Him in Jail

(WNYT-TV)

Unbelievable video captured by a New York business owner's surveillance cameras appear to show an undercover police informant (not a police officer) planting and photographing crack cocaine, which ultimately led to the man's arrest.

Scotia and Schenectady County Police reportedly became suspicious of Donald Andrews, Jr., who owns a smoke shop on Mohawk Avenue in Scotia, N.Y., and decided to send the undercover informant to gather some information. He was sent to Andrews' place of business twice, according to WNYT-TV.

It was during the informant's second trip to the smoke shop that he was caught on camera planting and photographing what appears to be cocaine.

In WNYT-TV's video report, Andrews's lawyer can be heard narrating the shocking surveillance video.

"He comes in, places the crack on the counter. Crack, which under federal sentencing guidelines, would get him 4 years in jail. Under New York State law would get him 2 to 7 years in jail," attorney Kevin Luibrand says in the video.

Members of the Schenectady chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference expressed shock, letting out gasps of disbelief as they watched what looks like the framing of a business owner.

"Neither the Schenectady County Sheriff nor the Scotia Police Chief were available to be interviewed about the apparent planting of evidence," WNYT-TV reports.

Schenectady County Sheriff Dominic Dagostino reportedly told the station via phone that proper procedures were not followed. However, he placed the blame on the undercover informant, who is on the run.

Andrews was arrested and later released when he produced the incriminating video evidence, recorded on his seven-camera surveillance system.

He is in the process of filing a wrongful arrest lawsuit.

Editor's note: This story has been updated for clarity.

–

[related]