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Video Catches Narcotics Cop In Lie, Drug Charges Tossed
By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 16, 2010
Modified Mar 16, 2010
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By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 16, 2010
Modified Mar 16, 2010
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Three NYPD detectives and their supervisor have been stripped of their guns and badges pending an Internal Affairs investigation into a false accusation of drug dealing in the lobby of a Bronx building. In early 2009, Omar Tawdeen was arrested for allegedly selling crack cocaine to three people, and detective Francisco Payano testified that he witnessed Tawdeen deal the drugs. But Tawdeen insisted he was "innocent from day one of every single charge in that case," according to his lawyer. And during a pretrial hiring on February 9th, he was vindicated when surveillance video showed that not only didn't Tawdeen sell any drugs, but Payano wasn't even there. All the charges against Tawdeen were tossed out, and Judge Aarons told Payano he should retain a defense lawyer, sources tell the Post.
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John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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