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.