Pubdate: Sat, 25 Apr 2015
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2015 Hearst Communications Inc.
Contact: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions/#1
Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Author: Henry K. Lee
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)

SAN JOSE OFFICER ACCUSED OF SELLING POT FROM STORAGE

A San Jose police officer was charged with dealing marijuana that he 
kept in a storage facility, authorities said Friday.

Officer Son Vu, 44, was scheduled to appear Friday afternoon in Santa 
Clara County Superior Court in San Jose on charges of possession with 
intent to sell and maintaining an illegal stash location. Vu was 
arrested Thursday and is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

The 21-year department veteran has been on paid administrative leave 
since his initial arrest in June 2014.

The investigation began on the afternoon of June 3, 2014, when police 
were called to a storage facility on Tully Road by the company's 
owner, who cut the locks on a storage space because the renter was 
delinquent. Officers found more than 12 pounds of marijuana and grow 
lights, authorities said.

Police determined Vu had rented the space, authorities said. 
Investigators found $5,700 in Vu's personal car and a thumb drive 
that contained a file with information on police calls related to 
marijuana grow houses, prosecutors said.

"We will not tolerate such conduct, especially criminal conduct, and 
we will hold those responsible for their actions," San Jose Police 
Chief Larry Esquivel said in a statement when the case came to light.

"It is deeply disappointing that an officer sworn to uphold the law 
would so brazenly break it," said Patrick Vanier, the supervising 
deputy district attorney who oversees the narcotics unit. "This 
office and the San Jose Police Department stand together against 
illegal drug dealing in our community, no matter who the dealer is."

Vu is the third San Jose police officer to be accused of criminal 
misconduct in recent years.

Geoffrey Graves was charged with the onduty rape of a woman who had 
reported being the victim of domestic abuse. He is also accused of 
domestic violence for incidents involving an ex-girlfriend.

Last year, former police Detective Anthony "Tony" Fregger, who 
investigated sexual assaults, was sentenced to six months in jail and 
ordered to perform 500 hours of community service after being 
convicted of charges that he asked for and received sexually explicit 
photos of a teenage girl while off duty.
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