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Caught on Tape: Cops Retain Cocaine


By

Dave Hogarty

Published Dec 20, 2007

Modified Mar 7, 2008


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By

Dave Hogarty

Published Dec 20, 2007

Modified Mar 7, 2008


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thewire.jpgDetective Sean Johnstone of the Brooklyn South Narcotics Unit was arrested yesterday along with police officer Julio Alvarez in connection to 11 missing bags of cocaine that Johnstone seized in a drug bust. The detective was caught talking about the drugs when he forgot that he was wearing a wire for an undercover operation and he recorded himself talking about them to Alvarez.

The officers were caught after Johnstone unknowingly left a wire that he was wearing turned on. The two officers were heard talking to a third unnamed officer about a drug bust and how they confiscated 28 bags of cocaine, but only turned in 17 of them.

Johnstone was also recording repeatedly using the N-word in reference to black people. Both Alvarez and Johnstone were arraigned in Brooklyn Criminal Court yesterday on charges of official misconduct and filing false documents. No drug charges have been filed yet, as the NYPD's internal affairs unit investigates if the cocaine actually went missing. The cops have been suspended without pay.

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