3 LAPD officers charged with perjury, conspiracy after videotape contradicts their account

Three Los Angeles police officers were charged today with perjury and conspiracy for allegedly lying under oath in a drug possession case that was dismissed last year when a videotape sharply contradicted their testimony.

The felony charges were brought by the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

In February, the U.S. Justice Department opened its own investigation into the officers' actions.

At issue are the actions of officers at a Hollywood apartment complex where a security camera documented the 2007 arrest of Guillermo Alarcon Jr.

At Alarcon's trial last year, Officers Richard Amio and Evan Samuel testified that they were on patrol in Los Angeles when they chased Alarcon, 29, into his Hollywood apartment building. The officers told jurors that they saw him throw away a black object.

They testified that Samuel quickly picked up the object and found about $260 worth of powder and crack cocaine inside. But footage from a security camera at the apartment building, which is managed by Alarcon's mother, showed that officers searched for more than 20 minutes before an object allegedly containing cocaine was found.

They were aided by other officers, including Manuel Ortiz, who testified about the case at a preliminary hearing in January. The quality of the tape, a copy of which was obtained by The Times, is poor and it is difficult to clearly hear what is being said. But at one point, soon after the drugs were found, an officer seems to make a reference to the arrest report that needed to be filled out.

"Be creative in your writing," the officer appears to tell another after the discovery. Alarcon's attorney argued at trial that his client was innocent and that the officers had planted evidence and then lied about it.

After viewing the videotape, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Monica Bachner dismissed the charges at the request of prosecutors. The judge also declared Alarcon factually innocent.

--Jack Leonard

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Comments

[Streets]

A police officer is arrested everyday in America. THis does not surprise me. Hope they get fired and prosecuted.

[Jeffrey Story]

"a copy of which was obtained by The Times"

Give it up...

[donalds]

Polygraphs should be a condition of on-going employment of law enforcement. Especially when it comes to citizen complaints. Maybe officers would think twice about breaking the laws they are sworn to uphold.

[mike]

LAPD Officers straying from the Straight and Narrow? Tell me it ain't true. I think this is part of the Obama-Socialist-Communist-Muslim-Nazi Conspiracy to shake our Faith in the System. If the Police say "x" is True, then "x" is True. These mighty Warriors Against The Evildoers are our Angels and should be worshipped, not questioned. I am PROUD to take the Patriot Position (hands against the wall, legs spread) when ordered to do so! Anyone who doesn't Bow Down and Worship the BLUE should just be shipped off to have their organs harvested. Anything less is treason.

[mike]

LAPD Officers straying from the Straight and Narrow? Tell me it ain't true. I think this is part of the Obama-Socialist-Communist-Muslim-Nazi Conspiracy to shake our Faith in the System. If the Police say "x" is True, then "x" is True. These mighty Warriors Against The Evildoers are our Angels and should be worshipped, not questioned. I am PROUD to take the Patriot Position (hands against the wall, legs spread) when ordered to do so! Anyone who doesn't Bow Down and Worship the BLUE should just be shipped off to have their organs harvested. Anything less is treason.

[Village Idiot]

Why am I not surprised by this...

[Timothy]

Tip of the iceberg, people.

If you find yourself in trouble, always consider whether calling the police might make matters much worse.

[Briana Gonzalez]

Our own Police men lie even though they are on an oath, i wander whats next. many cops have been caught lying but this has to stop.Although the drug was found anyway they should have said the truth from the start

[woody]

happens every day.......

[nick]

The most powerful and feared gang in los angeles, the LAPD.

[EDD STACK]

This is no suprise to me. Its been my own expierience that police in general pad all cases with lies if not total fabrication. I had a traffic altercation that required going to court. Much to my shock and dismay the police that took the stand lied under oath and fabricated a scenerio that that never occured. I asked my laywer about their remarks and he told me that it is the "norm" for law inforcement to "embelish" upon a case and that it comes down to your word against thiers. I am dissapointed that they feel the need to lie under oath in order to sway a court outcome. Why not do what I did.. Tell the the gods honest truth.

[Just a guy.]

Not All police officers are bad,not all are good. Actually, nothing is 100% either way. I do find it remarkable that many if not most citizens feel law enforcemt people have some sort of "immunity" to lying; when in reality, they are just human beings, capable of being what any other human being is capable of. You don't have to agree; still doesn't change the fact that it's true.

[Proud_Americana]

LAPD officers are given way too much power with not enough oversight. Yeah, they put their life on the line everyday, but they're compensated with good benefits, good pay and a Police Union that is forever defending every one of their actions, whether right or wrong. They think they're above the law. How many police officers do you know that actually get traffic tickets when not in uniform??? They don't...it doesn't happen, they tell the patrol officer they're part of "so and so" police department and they get out of a speeding or red-light ticket. This makes them above the law and it shouldn't happen. Not in America.

[Adam]

crooked cops? naw, couldn't be....

[lyn]

Why are you law abiding perfect citizens police officers? You don't know
what you would do in certain situations, what do you do in your own jobs...if
you have one. I know there are bad cops, bad postal workers, bad airport
employees and so on. I think the reason some cops may lie is because they
know the laws are so touchy and liberal so many criminals get off so if they
actually care if this person is put behind bars they may fudge the report.
I'm on the side of the good guys, the innocent that are harmed, so it they
have to write more into a report to make it stick...GREAT!!!
I think most people feel this way, unless you are a crook, a relative of one..and
by the look of LA's stats all you cry babies are most likely related to a gang member, or a druggie. Look at how you are raising your children, to be
just like you, what a wonderful future you have given them.
Sit back, drink your beer, shoot your drugs until the next welfare check
comes.

[UNCLE SAM]

POS COPS and remember the POS' didn't hesitate to lie, so its just business as usual. I hope they get screwed in prison!...just like the way they screw people now!

[oma]

This is strange, the Burbank Leader is for weeks reporting on much more serious crimes then this one. Because the reports and FBI investigations are showed under the rug by the main section and only reported on a local level it is clear that the greater LA area knows nothing about the crimes commited by the Burbank Police Department and the investigation that is going on since 2003. When will the LA Times stop covering for the criminals and wake up and do their duties to the community and the people. The way this in handled is really an eye opener for how the communities and the people are being misled

[MrDestBoi]

Hey guess what, cops are humans too!

this guy probably didnt something to piss one of these cops off and they tried very hard to get back @ him... it backfired this time which is reassuring to me. Wish it would happen more often!

[Police Reform]

Mike, you my friend are an idiot. If you knew anything about the Constitution you would know that it protects the citizens of the United States against illegal search an seizure from the government. The police, whether you know it or not are the government. And If we as citizens continue to condone this type of behavior we will soon end up with a police force similar to the ones found in Latin America.

I personally believe that the minimum requirements to be a police officer should be raised. They should require at minimum a bachlors degree, with that they should pay officers more money. I personally know way to many Idiot's that turn to police work because it allows them to earn a fare wage with no education. These Idiot's in return are costing the city millions in law suits. I want to respect police officers but all to often i come to learn that they are morons with a badge who could not earn a fare wage in the free market. They are glorified bouncers.

P.S
for all of you who say don't call the police, I don't.
I am 6th 2inchs and weigh 280, plus i own my own gun.
I can take care of myself.

[Joe]

Why do you side with the bad guy? Sometimes it is necessary to lie to get these scums off the streets. How do you feel about running into one of these guys, getting rob, and getting killed for a few dollars? What the 7 Eleven clerk who got murdered? I will choose "lying" over "killing" to put these scums in prison for life.

[Mike]

The officers were dumb for their actions but they didn't plant the dope. The gangster dropped it when he was running to mommy who runs the apartment. She turned on the video and caught the officers lying about who found it and how long it took. They were trying to help the people in the area who constantly compained about Alarcon gangbanging and slingin. You guys can blame the police but that is why L.A. is a horrible place to live. "It's always the cops fault". Nice City.

[BeeBop]

Last year I witnessed a medically retired CHP officer testify against a cop in a criminal trial. All that came out of that man's mouth were lies, upon more lies. It was pretty shocking. The big question was why that man was not charged with perjury.

[tarheelchief]

In the ongoing struggle within Mexico more and more FBI agents are inside California.So far they have turned up several police officers smuggling drugs across the border, or planting evidence against known drug cartel members, or prison guards supplying inmates,and numerous cases of officials and non-profits laundering money for drug cartels.
Like Florida,New Jersey,and New York questions are being asked about the involvement of legislators and judges in this ongoing problem.
Let's hope the CIA and NSA help our FBI and Justice Department in their quest to clean up our states.

[Bradford Talamon]

This is an example of the police "tailoring" their testimony to secure a conviction. In this case, the irony is that they may have had enough to secure a conviction had they just told the truth in the first place.

I know that the police tell the truth most the time. The problem is that they have a very cavalier attitude toward the ones who lie. After all (the thinking goes), the guy had drugs anyway.

It isn't just this case. Now, defense lawyers are going to go back through ALL of the cases where the testimony and credibility of these officers was crucial to securing a conviction. This could lead to convictions being overturned and other defendants may be set free...not to mention possible civil lawsuits against the city.

[Natalia]

Shocking!

Not...

How many more years of this are we going to have to put up with? Alarcon would be sitting in prison along with who-knows-how-many innocent people framed by L.A.'s finest if not for a video. That is a sad state of affairs.

Mike - great post!