DA REFILES CHARGES AGAINST OFFICER

Bucks Wants Hearing On Obstruction Case To Go Before County Judge

The Bucks County district attorney's office has refiled charges
against Jonathan Knight, the Chalfont police officer accused of
tipping off a drug dealer during an undercover drug investigation.

The reinstatement of charges Monday comes less than a week after
Perkasie District Judge Ruth Dietrich dismissed the case, ruling
police failed to show Knight intended to harm the investigation.

Knight, of Warminster Township, is charged with hindering
apprehension or prosecution and obstructing administration of law or
other governmental function. He was suspended from his job Sept. 23.

The reinstatement wasn't a surprise since Bucks County prosecutor
Karen Diaz made the county's intentions clear after last week's hearing.

"Obviously, officer Knight is unhappy that the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania disagrees with the decision of Judge Dietrich," Knight's
attorney, Louis Busico, said. "We think Judge Dietrich's decision was
well thought-out and correct."

The district attorney's office was unreachable for comment Wednesday.

Knight was arraigned Tuesday before District Judge Robert Gaffney in
New Britain Township. He was released on unsecured bail.

The DA's office has requested that Knight's next preliminary hearing
be held before a county judge.

Busico said he will challenge the request, but would not go into
further details.

Dietrich was assigned the case after Gaffney recused himself because
he hears cases brought by Chalfont police officers, including Knight.

Dietrich dismissed the charges against Knight, 35, after more than a
90-minute hearing Dec. 16, ruling that prosecutors failed to show he
intended to harm the investigation.

That hearing included testimony from the dealer, an undercover
policeman, the Chalfont police chief and a county detective.

Knight is accused of telling friend and convicted drug dealer Whitney
Watson in January that he was "in trouble" after Watson told him he
was concerned he had sold drugs to an undercover officer.

The undercover investigation was handled by the Bensalem Township
Police Department.

Police were led to Knight after they charged Watson in February with
delivering marijuana. Watson, of Buckingham Township, pleaded guilty
in July to delivery of a controlled substance and was sentenced to
three years' probation.

Watson testified against Knight during the hearing last week, telling
the court he befriended Knight and other Chalfont officers because
the department used the car wash where he worked, TLC Car Wash, to
fuel and wash police cars.

Busico argued last week that Knight's conversations did not stop
Watson from further deals because Watson had already concluded, after
the January deal, that he would no longer deal.

County prosecutor Karen Diaz argued Knight's conversations with
Watson could have led to an officer being uncovered and possibly hurt.