The State - News from May 27, 1988

Former Black Panther leader Eldridge Cleaver was put on probation for 18 months on a cocaine possession charge and agreed to undergo drug treatment. After receiving his sentence, Cleaver said outside Oakland Municipal Court that he has already begun the six-week drug diversion program at Trouble House in Oakland. Cleaver was arrested last October after he nearly drove his car into an Oakland police car and a police officer said he found two rocks of cocaine in Cleaver’s car. Cleaver was an unsuccessful candidate for the Senate two years ago.