The head of Philadelphia's chief police oversight body is accused of selling confidential information that was used to frighten a witness in an active attempted murder case.
Hassan Bennett, 43, the chair of the Citizens Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) and an employee of the public defender’s office, was charged Tuesday with witness intimidation, conspiracy and bribery.
Prosecutors were clear that Bennett was not the target of the investigation; rather, he was identified on recorded phone calls that the city’s Department of Prisons shared with authorities, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Investigators allege that 45-year-old Thomas Scott paid Bennett $500 in exchange for an unredacted police report and the name of a witness connected to an incident of domestic violence that occurred in July.
In a three-way call that occurred in August, detectives heard Bennett relaying the information to Scott, the DA’s Office stated.
Scott is not the defendant in that case, though he communicated with the suspect and threatened to kill the witness if he did not recant his testimony, prosecutors said. The DA’s Office did not identify the defendant, who remains incarcerated pending further court proceedings on charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault.
Assistant District Attorney Joseph Lanuti, during a news conference Tuesday, told reporters that audit logs show that Bennett had accessed details about the investigation through a city case management system.
Bennett was previously incarcerated for 13 years, having received a life sentence in 2008 for his alleged involvement in a fatal double shooting that happened two years prior in West Philadelphia.
He appealed the conviction and was acquitted following his fourth trial in 2019. Bennett represented himself, and the verdict made national headlines. He settled a lawsuit against the city and PPD for more than $4 million last year, according to the National Registry of Exonerations.
DA Larry Krasner stated Tuesday that he thought Bennett did participate in the 2006 homicide; however, he added, prosecutors had their hands tied because of the involvement of disgraced Detective James Pitts in the investigation. Pitts was sentenced to 32 to 64 months in prison last year for coercing a confession in a separate matter.
City Council four years ago approved Bennett’s appointment as an inaugural member of CPOC, which was formed to provide independent police oversight in light of the 2020 killing of George Floyd and the resulting racial justice demonstrations. He also reportedly worked as a bail navigator for the Defender Association of Philadelphia.
The Defender Association, in a statement, said it “is moving forward with termination of employment in full accordance with administrative and collective bargaining procedures.” CPOC representatives, meanwhile, said Bennett is currently on leave.
Krasner told reporters that Bennett’s actions are not a reflection on the commission or public defender’s office.
“Let’s not get it twisted,” he said. “Criminal conduct is an individual thing. It does not smear on everybody else who is around.”
Scott was charged earlier this month with witness intimidation, while Bennett was arrested Tuesday.
Bennett is being held on $1 million bail, of which he must post 10% to be released. His legal counsel could not be identified through court records Wednesday. Scott’s attorney declined to comment.
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