Update, February 21, 2011: In a closed session this week, the Oakland City Council agreed to award Oakland resident Lorenzo Hall (known as Zoe tha Roasta) and his attorneys $300,000 in settlement for the Oakland Police planting a gun on him.

Last year, after a week long trial in San Francisco, a federal court awarded Hall $175,000.  Initially in 2006, Hall was arrested while attending a wake for his aunt in east Oakland. He was charged with illegal possession of a weapon and spent nearly two years behind bars.

Here's his story, from an OL interview in October 2010:

Recently, Oakland resident, Lorenzo Hall, know as Zoe tha Roasta, won a lawsuit against the Oakland Police Department for planting a gun on him. He was held for 22 months on the allegation of possession of a weapon.

His charge against the police went from accusation to award at a seemingly rapid pace as U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney ruled within one week of hearing the case. However, the case stems from an incident involving a tip from a confidential informant outside of a funeral Hall was attending in 2006.

While incarcerated for the alleged gun possession, which would have been Hall’s third strike - potentially sending him to jail for life - he fired his attorney, then represented himself. Hall was successful in getting the original charges dropped.

He ultimately also won his civil case against Officer Ramon Alcantar and the Oakland Police Department. This time the judge’s decision came with an award of $175,000 in damages.

Watch the video for more details on what happened to Hall-- in his own words.

Lorenzo Hall maintains that not all police officers in Oakland are rogue. In fact, he comends the officers that do their jobs well: those that protect, serve and understand as well as obey the law themselves.

Be clear that this (article/video) is not the least or last of what Mr. Hall has to say. In fact, this is not his last lawsuit against OPD. In the coming months there is sure to be more news from the halls of justice in Oakalnd regarding Mr. Hall.