BALTIMORE POLICE OFFICER INDICTED ON PERJURY,MISCONDUCT

Officer allegedly planted crack cocaine on a robbery suspect

BALTIMORE -- A Baltimore police officer has been arrested and indicted on
perjury and misconduct charges, the police department announced this
morning. The officer has been suspended with pay pending his trial.

Brian L. Sewell, a six-year veteran of the Central District, was arrested
this morning after a month-long internal affairs investigation. Police said
Sewell, 31, planted a bag of crack cocaine on a robbery suspect on Sept. 4.

The bag of crack had been left on a park bench in the 400 block of Presstman
St. as a part of an internal affairs "random integrity test" to see if
officers would turn in the drugs.

Police believe Sewell took the bag to his next call and then charged a
robbery suspect with possession of the drug.

"This is a big leap over the line," Norris said. "If an innocent person is
arrested and charged with planting drugs...it is a serious breach of the
public trust."

If convicted, Sewell could face up to 10 years in prison on the perjury
charge. Any penalty for the misconduct charge is up to the judge's
discretion, Joyce Daniels, spokeswoman for the Baltimore State's Attorney's
Office, explained.

"He certainly could lose his job if convicted," police spokeswoman Ragina C.
Averella said.

Fraternal Order of Police attorney Henry Belsky, who is representing Sewell,
believes his client is innocent. "[Sewell] tells me he did not commit
perjury or any other crime and I believe him," Belsky said. "They are trying
to put a round peg in a square hole."

Sewell is the first officer arrested since Norris instituted anti-corruption
stings after becoming commissioner in April.

"We promised we would get rid of the bad apples in the agency and we are
fulfilling that promise," Norris said.

The officers working with Sewell have not been charged in the case.

"This is a sad occasion in respect for the police department and also a
positive development," Mayor Martin O’Malley said. "By advertising that we
are taking [police corruption] more seriously, hopefully more people may be
willing to take the risks to report it."

The arrested man, whose name is being withheld by police, spent a night in
jail and still faces robbery charges.

Police said Sewell did not know the man and they are still investigating his
motive for allegedly accusing the suspect.

Norris and O’Malley said the stings are part of their zero-tolerance
strategy meant to reduce crime in the city and the police force.

Norris said officer surveys and citizen complaints about police corruption
prompted the stings. Police would not say how many stings have been
conducted so far.