Pubdate: Thu, 07 Dec 2006
Source: Times Leader  (Wilkes-Barre, PA)
Copyright: 2006 The Times Leader
Contact:  http://www.timesleader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/933
Author: Edward Lewis, Times Leader staff writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)

FEDS: COP TARGETED MINORITIES

Pittston Twp. Officer Charles Michael Byra Jr. Is Accused Of Stealing Evidence.

A federal prosecutor said a Pittston Township police officer accused 
of stealing evidence targeted minority drug dealers and had female 
suspects perform sex acts on him.

U.S. Assistant Attorney William Houser further said Charles Michael 
Byra Jr., 28, gave a .380-caliber pistol he stole from the Dupont 
Police Department where he worked earlier this year to a convicted felon.

Houser described some of the alleged evidence against Byra during a 
hearing in federal court in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. Calling that 
evidence "overwhelmingly strong," Houser attempted to convince U.S. 
Magistrate Judge Malachy Mannion that Byra is a "continued danger to 
the community" and should remain in federal custody.

Afterward, Mannion released Byra on his own recognizance with 
restrictions, including a monitoring anklet. Byra was ordered to 
remain under home confinement and was permitted to stay with his 
girlfriend of 2 1/2 years, Amy Kamowski, on Winter Street, Pittston.

Byra was arrested Friday on federal drug and firearm charges.

Late Tuesday, a federal grand jury issued a seven-count indictment 
accusing him of drug trafficking with a firearm, a .45-caliber 
semi-automatic pistol, two counts of possession with intent to 
distribute crack cocaine, two counts of possession with intent to 
distribute marijuana, possession of a stolen .380-caliber pistol and 
obstruction of a federal grand jury investigation.

During Wednesday's hearing, Houser said Byra became the subject of an 
investigation when Dupont Police Chief Anthony DeMark reported that 
heroin, cocaine, marijuana, a .380-caliber pistol and the log book 
were missing from the borough's police department. Byra was a 
part-time officer in Dupont but hadn't been scheduled to work in the 
borough since the evidence was discovered missing.

The investigation by the state police at Wyoming crossed paths with 
the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration whose federal agents were 
investigating heroin and cocaine trafficking into the area. One of 
the subjects that was targeted by the DEA became an informant, who 
happens to be a friend of Byra's, Houser said.

The informant agreed to cooperate with authorities and wore a 
recording device that caught Byra admitting that he stole the 
.380-caliber pistol from the Dupont Police Department, Houser said.

Houser said the .380-caliber pistol is now in federal custody.

Between September to late November, Houser said, Byra was recorded by 
the informant while Byra was on duty for Pittston Township.

"The evidence will show quite disturbing statements made by Mr. 
Byra," Houser said during the hearing. " beyond any doubt, Mr. Byra 
is involved in drug trafficking. He is someone who believes he is 
above the law."

On Oct. 24, according to Houser, Byra was recorded saying to the 
informant while inside a Pittston Township police cruiser, "I only 
hit the boons up here. I don't hit anyone else but the boons," a 
reference to black people.

On the same recording, Byra was recorded saying he mainly stole iPods 
from minorities that he stopped and was waiting to steal a new Nextel 
cellular telephone, Houser said.

"He had interactions with females. He engaged in sexual activity 
having girls perform sexual acts on him," Houser said. He added that 
one female was under the influence of cocaine and that Byra referred 
to her by saying, "She was smoking."

Yet, Byra continued to file criminal charges against her, Houser said.

When the informant asked Byra if he was bored being a police officer, 
Byra allegedly said, "That's all I do is sit here and look for black 
people," Houser said.

Byra had the informant inside the Pittston Township Police Department 
showing marijuana that was seized as evidence, Houser said. They were 
allegedly discussing stealing the marijuana until Byra got dispatched 
to a call.

Byra is also under investigation for writing citations to trucking 
companies and arranging deals in which money is deposited into his 
bank account. In one case, Byra deposited $2,000 into his account, Houser said.

Byra wiped tears away from his eyes several times when his mother, 
Linda Byra, and Kamowski, testified about his character in their 
pleas to get him released.

Although Mannion permitted Byra to be released from federal custody, 
he also scolded Byra that his alleged actions give other law 
enforcement officers a bad reputation.

Mannion said he was also concerned that Byra continued to be involved 
in alleged illegal activity while he knew he was under investigation 
in connection with the evidence missing from Dupont.

U.S. Assistant Public Defender Gerry Grealish represents Byra.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom