LAPD Sting Leads to Probe of Officer
A Los Angeles police officer is under investigation for allegedly planting drugs on a suspect during an Internal Affairs sting operation in the San Fernando Valley, authorities said Monday.
Cmdr. William Booth declined to identify the officer, who has been assigned to desk duties while the misconduct probe is conducted.
Booth said authorities “have high hopes” that the case soon will be presented to the district attorney.
Booth said the department took the unusual step of revealing the investigation before an arrest had been made in an effort to quell “rumors” that several officers were under investigation.
“There is only one officer involved,” Booth said. “On at least one occasion the officer was accused of planting a small amount of contraband on a suspect and (arrested) him for being in possession.”
In fact, the suspect was an undercover police officer, and the planting of the cocaine was part of a sting operation, Booth said.
Booth said the probe began after the department received “information” from an undisclosed source, he said.
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