Pubdate: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 Source: Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO) Copyright: 2004, Denver Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/371 Author: Brian D. Crecente, Rocky Mountain News Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) COP FACES CHARGES Officer Allegedly Took $10,000 Bribe From Convicted Drug Dealer A Denver police officer was charged Thursday for allegedly taking a $10,000 bribe from a drug dealer to destroy evidence. Officer Damon D. Finley, 31, was charged with bribery, conspiracy to commit tampering with physical evidence, conspiracy to commit theft, and theft. He also faces a federal charge of making a false statement to an FBI agent. The investigation started after the city's police department and district attorney's office received a tip from Anthony Brothers. Brothers, who was facing multiple drug charges in Arapahoe County and Denver, told investigators he paid Finley $10,000 to destroy some crack cocaine being held as evidence against him. Finley allegedly accepted the money through his father, Fred Ponds, but then never destroyed the evidence, officials say. Brothers, who has been arrested 31 times in the past 18 years - 19 times on drug-related charges - cut a deal with prosecutors, promising to cooperate with investigators. In Denver, Brothers initially faced two counts of distributing a controlled substance, two counts of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, and three counts of being a habitual criminal, according to court documents. All but a charge of distributing a controlled substance were dismissed. Brothers pleaded guilty to that charge and received four years probation, said Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter. "He did receive probation for his cooperation in this case," Ritter said. Brothers told investigators he had cut a deal with Finley in the summer of 2001 to get out of a drug charge centered around a crack cocaine bust. "The allegation is that there was a conspiracy between Finley and Ponds that they would take the money and that the drugs would be destroyed," Ritter said. "The money was paid up front, but the evidence was never tampered with." Finley was placed on paid leave in July 2003, and his authority as a police officer was removed, police spokeswoman Virginia Lopez said. Thursday, Finley was formally suspended without pay, she said. A Denver Police Department internal affairs investigation remains under way, so police can't comment further on the case, Lopez said. Finley's federal charge came after a July 2003 interview with the FBI, who had been asked to help in the investigation. During that interview, Finley allegedly lied to agents, telling them that Brothers had never shown him any of the legal paperwork surrounding the drug case and that he didn't realize that Brothers had drug-related charges pending against him. Thursday, a federal grand jury indicted Finley on charges that he made false statements. Ritter was hesitant to talk about the seriousness of the charges Finley faces prior to trial. "It was a lengthy investigation," he said. "Obviously, these are serious allegations and all of the investigative agencies treated them very seriously." Ponds, who allegedly was the go-between for his son and Brothers, may also face charges. Finley, a former East High School track star, once dreamed of life as a judge, modeled after the career of his then-role model, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. He became an officer in 2000 and received a commendation in August 2002 for his help in chasing down a suspect in a series of carjackings. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin