The Chief made reference to “packets and a hand rolled cigarette” and inferred that it was spice that was found in the car. They shouldn’t have shot him but it won’t help the kid’s case if he was doing something illegal.
Given the young man’s goals in life, I would say it’s far more likely that the synthetic drugs were planted.
A “drop drug” instead of a “drop gun”, so to speak.
(”We need something to take the attention off the fact that we nearly murdered this young man—quick! put this inside.)