A former building inspector for the Philadelphia's Department of Licenses and Inspections is facing harassment charges after he allegedly bullied a property owner who wouldn't sell to him.
On Tuesday, a federal grand jury indicted 45-year-old Kenneth Gassman on an extortion charge claiming that he harassed the owner and vandalized the Fishtown commercial property while abusing his authority as a city employee.
Prosecutors say Gassman owns homes on either side of the property on the 2500 block of East Thompson St. and became angry when the owner declined to sell to him, twice, in 2006.
The grand jury says Gassman persuaded other inspectors to issue violations on the property preventing others from purchasing the property, glued doors shut and used an alias to call a city hot line and report safety problems.
Gassman resigned from his city job on Monday. His attorney says Gassman will plead not guilty.
