Authorities say a Philadelphia police officer has been arrested and charged with falsely claiming that he was attacked and injured by a suspect.
Thirty-five-year-old Officer Keith White of Warminster is charged with records tampering, unsworn falsification, false reports to law enforcement and official oppression. Police officials say he has been suspended for 30 days and is to be fired by the end of that period.
Prosecutors say the charges against the 13-year veteran stem from an April 2018 narcotics arrest in north Philadelphia. Officials say the officer said in a written statement that he was struck in the mouth by the person he arrested, who was charged with aggravated assault and other counts.
But prosecutors say video surveillance showed the defendant lying on the ground and not resisting, and they say the officer's injuries may have come when he fell during the foot chase. The assault charges against the defendant were withdrawn two weeks after they were filed.
Get Philly local news, weather forecasts, sports and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC Philadelphia newsletters.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that a spokesperson for the police union declined to comment on the case.
