Officer extorted money, drugs at traffic stop.

[OffDuty]

This shit gives everyone a bad name- this ain't The Shield out here, people. Thanks for setting LE back again. Enjoy your Federal time.

Former cop in South Bend faces charges
Federal investigators say he extorted money, drugs at traffic stop.


MARTI GOODLAD HELINE
Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND, IN -- A former South Bend police officer surrendered to federal authorities Monday after being indicted by a federal grand jury for his alleged conduct during a traffic stop in the summer of 2005.

Haven Freeman, 31, is free on a $25,000 unsecured bond after making his initial appearance Monday afternoon in U.S. District Court.

The indictment alleges Freeman used his official position to threaten to arrest a person unless that person turned over drugs and money to the officer. The investigation found that those items were not turned in as evidence to the Police Department, according to investigators.

Freeman is accused of using his official position to extort money and drugs. He also is accused of possessing illegal drugs and using a gun during a drug trafficking crime.

The indictment alleges the controlled substance Freeman possessed involved 100 grams or less of a substance that contained heroin.

Court documents indicate that along with the threat to arrest the person from whom he allegedly demanded drugs and money, Freeman allegedly threatened to separate the person from his or her child if the person failed to relinquish the items.

South Bend police contacted the FBI, whose investigation led to the indictment.

U.S. Attorney Joseph Van Bokkelen praised the cooperation from the South Bend Police Department along with the thorough investigation by the FBI, which was independent from any internal police investigation.

Freeman resigned as a police officer in March 2006 after serving 3 1/2 years on the force.

Records obtained by The Tribune indicate that Freeman received a letter of reprimand in April 2005 for driving in reverse to clear a street after a vehicle chase and in doing so, struck another vehicle with his police car. He was warned to use more care in operating his car in the future.

Freeman entered a not guilty plea to the charges Monday and is set for a four-day jury trial beginning June 11 before U.S. District Judge Robert L. Miller Jr., said Assistant U.S. Attorney William T. Grimmer, who is prosecuting the case for the government.

[JCSO8]

Exactly what he said