TRINIDAD

“Neither of those detectives had any idea about how to run a drug bust operation,” Lane said.

Trinidad police paid Bachicha $3,085 for providing information that led to arrests. Bachicha was convicted of perjury in November 2015.

The detectives also withheld from arrest affidavits information challenging Bachicha’s credibility, including her arrest for allegedly trying to obtain prescription drugs illegally while she was working as an informant, the lawsuit filed by the ACLU contended.

“Trinidad detectives allowed a devious snitch to frame our innocent clients for crimes they did not commit,” said Mark Silverstein, legal director of the ACLU of Colorado. “With this settlement, our clients have been vindicated, and Trinidad detectives have received a clear message that the uncorroborated say-so of a shady snitch cannot justify destroying the careers and reputations of innocent members of the community.”

In court documents disputing the lawsuit filed by Lane, the city and detectives had contended that their actions “were taken in good faith and were reasonable under the circumstances.”