Pubdate: Sat, 08 Mar 2014
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)
Copyright: 2014 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc
Contact:  http://www.philly.com/inquirer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/340
Author: Robert Moran
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)

OFFICER CHARGED WITH LYING

A Philadelphia officer was charged Friday by the District Attorney's 
Office with lying under oath in two drug cases.

Steven Lupo, who has been with the department for six years, will be 
suspended with intent to dismiss by Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey, a 
police spokesman said.

The investigation of Lupo, 36, began after his testimony in a drug 
case in 2011 led a judge to dismiss drug charges against an East 
Germantown man.

Lupo testified that he had not opened the trunk of a car before 
obtaining a search warrant. Video surveillance introduced by the 
defendant's attorney showed Lupo and a supervisor opened the trunk 
and looked inside before the search warrant was secured.

In the second case, from 2010, Lupo testified that he was on patrol 
when he saw a vehicle that he believed was running and unattended. He 
testified that he could not see if the car was occupied because all 
the windows had a "dark limo tint ... like completely black tint."

He testified that he approached the car to investigate and smelled 
what he believed was marijuana. Two people were in the car, along 
with marijuana and 30 packets of crack cocaine, according to police reports.

The defense attorney for the accused produced three witnesses who 
testified that the 2010 Lincoln, a rental car, did not have tinted windows.

The Internal Affairs detective investigating Lupo tracked down the 
car to Virginia, photographed it, and told the grand jury that its 
windows were not tinted.

Lupo was charged with two counts each of perjury, false swearing in 
official matters, unsworn falsification, false reports to law 
enforcement, and obstructing the administration of law.
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