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Hamilton County prosecutors expected to turn over unredacted evidence in confidential informant case after months of pushback

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Judge Barry Steelman listens to the lawyers’ arguments at the Hamilton County Courts Building on Friday, May 12, 2023.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Judge Barry Steelman listens to the lawyers’ arguments at the Hamilton County Courts Building on Friday, May 12, 2023. Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Judge Barry Steelman listens to the lawyers’ arguments at the Hamilton County Courts Building on Friday, May 12, 2023.

After months of back-and-forth between a Hamilton County judge and prosecutors over evidence in a Chattanooga man’s criminal case, the state is expected to turn over unredacted files this week about a confidential informant’s alleged drug buys.

Wendell Glass, 50, was indicted on one count of unlawful possession of cocaine for resale after an informant allegedly bought drugs from him on two occasions in 2021. He appeared Friday in front of Criminal Court Judge Barry Steelman.

Chattanooga police officer Kenneth Scriven oversaw the informant used in Glass’ case.

While the use of informants is a standard practice, Glass’ defense alleged there had been zero confirmation that a confidential informant actually bought drugs from Glass or that Chattanooga police followed department policy while overseeing the informant, attorney Ryan Wheeler previously argued in a motion.

Scriven previously oversaw about 10 cases in which an informant was able to plant evidence from September 2020 to January 2021, which raised questions about his oversight in Glass’ case, Wheeler argued.