CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Video showing the moment a former Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officer was caught allegedly taking money from a suspect was released on Tuesday. Henry Chapman was arrested on March 14, hours after he allegedly took $900 from a man he was arresting and hid it in his patrol car. The incident started when Chapman pulled over a driver for speeding and then learned the suspect was wanted for a federal arrest warrant. According to an affidavit, the man had nearly $8,000 in his possession during the arrest. Body camera footage showed the suspect accusing Chapman of taking some money from him. "I don't know if it's in your door or where it's at," the man said. "Do you see anything? That's my money, that's my money right there." An assisting officer said Chapman was shifting the money between his legs and moving it into the door pocket of his patrol car. The cash was found with a receipt inside the driver's door of Chapman's patrol car. "I heard him tampering with that rubber band," the man said. "That rubber band was on that money because my girlfriend gave it to me this morning." Chapman initially denied knowing the money was there, according to CMPD. The affidavit states Chapman later admitted to taking the money but claimed he wasn't stealing it. Chapman was charged with one count of embezzlement. CMPD shares video of officer stealing money during arrest | wcnc.com I'm gonna guess this sort of thing happens regularly.
We Own This City. A mini-series on HBO Max. It was not a very done mini-series, however the book it was based on, Justin Fenton's book We Own This City, was worth reading. It is about of Sgt. Wayne Jenkins and the Baltimore PD Gun Trace Task Force. A group that operated with impunity for years a decade and was 10 time worse than any street gang or crime syndicate. And, I am guessing that there is a version of the "Gun Trace Task Force" within every major city police department in the country. We Own This City (TV Mini Series 2022) ⭐ 7.6 | Biography, Crime, Drama
The real question is whether the officer would be entitled to Qualified immunity. Is there a preexisting case in which an officer shifted money between his legs into the door pocket of his cruiser after stealing it? If not, how could this officer know that doing so is wrong?
For the last ten years or so, cops have stolen more through civil forfeiture than losses reported as burglary or theft. But this was just straight up theft, didn't even try to dress it up as civil forfeiture.
