Dayton police officer indicted in vehicle impound scheme www.privateofficer.com
DAYTON OH May 22 2009 – A Montgomery County grand jury indicted 43-year-old Dayton Police officer Phillip E. Brooks Sr. today, May 21, on 22 counts related to the illegal sale of impounded vehicles.
Brooks was indicted on: seven counts of forgery, eight counts of tampering with records, three counts of unauthorized use of the database, two counts of grand theft, one count of attempted grand theft and one count of theft in office.
Brooks allegedly used a confidential police database to determine the owner of vehicles that had been towed or impounded, according to the county prosecutor’s office. Brooks then used that information to forge a fake bill of sale and had a new title issued in his name.
He would then sell the vehicles. Authorities said he’s been doing this illegally for at least four years.
Police were made aware of the scheme when one of the vehicles’ legitimate owners attempted to retrieve a vehicle.
The 22-count indictment involves three cars: a 1994 Nissan Brooks allegedly sold in November 2004, a 1997 Pontiac he allegedly sold in August 2007, and an unidentified vehicle he allegedly tried to sell in December 2008.
That (last) attempt “pretty much started the investigation,” said Greg Flannagan, spokesman for the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office.
Brooks was issued a subpoena to appear before a grand jury but did not honor it, so Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Frances McGee held a hearing on April 9. Brooks was booked into the Montgomery County Jail for a few hours that day after McGee found him in contempt of court.
The 2nd District Court of Appeals ordered his release, and the following day, Brooks was ordered to provide handwriting samples, which he did, McGee said.
“I am surprised because we all thought he was a good cop,” police union president Randy Beane said. “He is innocent until proven guilty, but his indictment does come as quite a shock.”
Brooks faces 59 years in prison if convicted.
He has been off patrol duty since at least the beginning of April after allegations of the illegal operation surfaced, according to police.
Brooks is currently not in jail and is expected to be arraigned in court on June 4.
Brooks was indicted on: seven counts of forgery, eight counts of tampering with records, three counts of unauthorized use of the database, two counts of grand theft, one count of attempted grand theft and one count of theft in office.
Brooks allegedly used a confidential police database to determine the owner of vehicles that had been towed or impounded, according to the county prosecutor’s office. Brooks then used that information to forge a fake bill of sale and had a new title issued in his name.
He would then sell the vehicles. Authorities said he’s been doing this illegally for at least four years.
Police were made aware of the scheme when one of the vehicles’ legitimate owners attempted to retrieve a vehicle.
The 22-count indictment involves three cars: a 1994 Nissan Brooks allegedly sold in November 2004, a 1997 Pontiac he allegedly sold in August 2007, and an unidentified vehicle he allegedly tried to sell in December 2008.
That (last) attempt “pretty much started the investigation,” said Greg Flannagan, spokesman for the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office.
Brooks was issued a subpoena to appear before a grand jury but did not honor it, so Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Frances McGee held a hearing on April 9. Brooks was booked into the Montgomery County Jail for a few hours that day after McGee found him in contempt of court.
The 2nd District Court of Appeals ordered his release, and the following day, Brooks was ordered to provide handwriting samples, which he did, McGee said.
“I am surprised because we all thought he was a good cop,” police union president Randy Beane said. “He is innocent until proven guilty, but his indictment does come as quite a shock.”
Brooks faces 59 years in prison if convicted.
He has been off patrol duty since at least the beginning of April after allegations of the illegal operation surfaced, according to police.
Brooks is currently not in jail and is expected to be arraigned in court on June 4.
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Categories: police
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