In a previous post, we talked about how drug charges can put careers at risk. Specifically, we told you about the rising football start Dre Kirkpatrick who was arrested on drug charges, after being pulled over by police in St. Petersburg. A police dog smelled marijuana in the vehicle, and the police did a search.

They allegedly found marijuana on the floor of the passenger seat where Kirkpatrick sat. He said he didn't realize that when his friend, who was driving the vehicle, stopped at a house that drugs were being bought. Now, prosecutors have said they will not pursue charges against Kirkpatrick. Police need to have solid evidence that the person involved in the case actually committed a crime.

Upon, further investigation, it is likely that the prosecutors did not have evidence to convict, which is why the drug charges were dropped. Even though charges were not pursued, drug charges and accusations can still have a negative effect on a person's reputation, especially when that person is in the public eye.

Since this man was a football player who is a likely National Football League draft pick, the publicity of his arrest quickly developed. Even though charges were dropped, new reports had already run, using police reports as the main source of information.

Police reports often only include the point of view of the police, not the person who is being accused of the crime. Since these reports often become public information, news outlets use them as their primary source, even though information in them can be one sided.

Source: ESPN.com, "Dre Kirkpatrick's pot charge dropped," Feb. 7, 2012