N.Y. Cop Found Guilty of Planting Drugs

A New York City Police detective planted drugs on a woman and her boyfriend outside a Coney Island apartment building in 2007, a judge has ruled.

Nov. 3, 2011

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A New York City Police detective planted drugs on a woman and her boyfriend outside a Coney Island apartment building in 2007, a judge has ruled.

State Supreme Court Justice Gustin L. Reichbach found detective Jason Arbeeny guilty of official misconduct, offering a false instrument for filing and falsifying business records in connection with the incident, The New York Times reported Wednesday.

Before announcing the verdict, Justice Reichbach scolded the police department for what he called a widespread culture of corruption endemic in its drug units.

Several narcotics officers in Brooklyn have been caught mishandling drugs seized as evidence, resulting in the dismissal of hundreds of potentially tainted drug cases.

During Arbeeny's trial, prosecutors described corruption in the drug units that the 14-year veteran officer worked for.

One former detective testified that officers in those units often planted drugs on innocent people.

"It's a sad day when a police officer misuses his authority," said prosecutor Charles Guria.