PHILADELPHIA (AP) _ A 54-year-old retired Philadelphia police officer filed a complaint with Internal Affairs after he was allegedly “violated” by officers during a case of mistaken identity.
Kevin Booker said the incident began around 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 8 when police came to his home and accused him of paying for take-out with two counterfeit $10 bills, The Philadelphia Daily News (https://bit.ly/1nMO1X1) reported Wednesday.
Booker claims the officers forced their way into his Ashdale Street home, punched him in the back of the head and handcuffed him despite his insistence that he never ordered food.
“This is the kind of thing that makes it harder for people to trust the police,” Booker said.
Booker said the officers tore through his trash can, recycling bin and refrigerator in the hopes of finding remnants of the cheesesteak and pizza that they said he ordered.
The officers allegedly told Booker, a nine-year force veteran who retired due to injury, that he was going to jail if he didn’t pay the delivery driver.
Booker said he told them that he used to be a police officer, but one of the officers replied that he didn’t care and he “probably got fired anyways.”
Booker was cut loose after police learned that someone else used his address to make the order.
Lt. John Stanford says the officers will remain on duty while Internal Affairs investigates.
Booker said he plans to sue the police department and he believes both officers should be fired.
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Information from: The Philadelphia Daily News, https://www.philly.com
