Pubdate: Sat, 28 May 2016
Source: Boston Globe (MA)
Copyright: 2016 Globe Newspaper Company
Contact: http://services.bostonglobe.com/news/opeds/letter.aspx?id=6340
Website: http://bostonglobe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/52
Authors: John R. Ellement and Milton J. Valencia
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)

LAWRENCE POLICE OFFICER CHARGED WITH TRYING TO EXTORT DRUG DEALER

A veteran Lawrence police officer was arrested late Thursday on 
charges that he used his power as a police officer to take cocaine 
from a drug dealer for personal use, then threatened the dealer with 
arrest if he notified authorities.

John R. Desantis Jr., 44, of Methuen, was charged with unlawfully 
obtaining property by extortion under color of official right, and 
threatened force and fear. He did not enter a plea during a Friday 
court appearance, but his lawyer says he denies the allegations. 
Desantis is being held until a hearing Tuesday.

Desantis is a 16-year veteran of the Lawrence Police Department, but 
he has not reported for duty since February 2015. He has been on 
medical leave for treatment of congestive heart failure and other 
illnesses, and in May 2015 he was placed in a medically induced coma 
for 16 days, his attorney, Stellio Sinnis, said during a brief court 
hearing Friday. Although Desantis's medical leave expired in 
November, other officers donated their sick time.

Sinnis asked that Desantis be allowed to remain free during the case, 
citing his health. He also said that Desantis would not be a flight 
risk if released on bail, pointing out that Desantis turned himself 
in when he learned there was a warrant out for his arrest. DeSantis 
lives with his wife and has four children.

Lawrence's mayor, Daniel Rivera, said in a statement that the FBI's 
arrest of Desantis will help maintain the professionalism of the 
police department, but added "we hope that Mr. Desantis gets the help 
he needs."

"It is important to remember that the unfortunate actions of one 
officer should not overshadow the stellar things that our police 
department does as a whole, but if any officer conducts him or 
herself in less than a professional and legal way they will be 
disciplined and or terminated," Rivera said.

Authorities said that Desantis had been purchasing small amounts of 
cocaine, about $100 to $200 worth, once or twice a week over the last 
10-12 months from a drug trafficker. During that time, he did not 
identify himself as a police officer. But during a May 16 drug sale 
at his home, Desantis allegedly displayed his gun and badge and 
seized three bags of cocaine, authorities said. He then threatened to 
arrest the drug trafficker - an undocumented immigrant from the 
Dominican Republic who is facing drug-dealing charges in state court 
- - if he did not supply him with cash.

"You will not be arrested at all if you do as I tell you to," he 
allegedly said to the drug trafficker in a text message.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom