‘Unstable’ Juror Excused From Miami Police Trial

MIAMI — A woman described by the trial judge as “unstable” was dismissed Friday from a jury hearing the case against seven former police officers accused of running a multimillion-dollar drug theft ring.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Ryskamp excused the woman, identified only as Juror No. 72, after a hearing involving attorneys from both sides.

The Latino woman tried to walk out of the jury box twice Thursday, but was restrained by other jurors.

Former Miami police officers Osvaldo Coello, Arturo de la Vega, Armando Estrada, Roman Rodriguez, Armando Garcia, Rodolfo Arias and Ricardo Aleman are being tried on charges of racketeering and drug trafficking.

Estrada, Garcia and Rodriguez also face charges of violating the rights of three drug smugglers who drowned on July 28, 1985, during a $13-million drug theft at a boat yard on the Miami River--the incident that led to the arrest of all seven officers.

Government lawyers had argued that the woman should be dropped because she was a hindrance to other members of the sequestered jury. The defense contended that the prosecution wanted to get rid of her because she was leaning in favor of the officers.

The woman juror sent a note to Ryskamp that said she could no longer be away from her daughter and her sister, who has cancer.