PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Philly judge is accusing three police officers of not obeying her order when they arrested a carjacking suspect in the hallway of the Criminal Justice Center.
Following a hearing with Judge Stephanie Sawyer, the suspect stepped into the hallway, and police attempted to arrest him with a warrant.
Sawyer heard something and went into the hallway.
She said she made an “oral order” at a different hearing, allowing the man to speak with his defense attorney before they took him away, but Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 President Roosevelt Poplar says the attorney went to the wrong area.
“Once they got to the cell block area and realized the defendant was not there, they immediately went upstairs and told the judge the officers left, which was not true,” he said.
Sawyer will hold a contempt hearing in April because she believes they disregarded her order and owe her an explanation.
Per a court spokesperson, police officers can make arrests in courthouse hallways, as it’s considered a public space, but they must first alert the sheriff for an assist in doing so and then take the suspect to a specific area.
During the hearing, Charles Gibbs, lawyer for the police union, told the judge he will likely file a motion for the judge to recuse herself since they believe she is involved in the dispute.