2 LA Sheriff's Detectives Involved In 2018 Drug Raid Indicted With Falsifying Police Report, Perjury
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Two Los Angeles County Sheriff's detectives have been charged with falsifying a police report in connection with a raid they took part in at an East Los Angeles home back in September of 2018.
The L.A. County District Attorney's Office reported Friday that 34-year-old Pedro Guerrero-Gonzalez and 41-year-old Noel Lopez were indicted by a grand jury Thursday. Guerrero-Gonzalez was indicted on one felony of filing a false police report, while Lopez was charged with felony perjury.
According to prosecutors, on Sept. 22, 2018 both detectives were involved in a raid on an East L.A. home in which drugs and weapons were found and two men were arrested.
However, investigators learned that Guerrero-Gonzalez falsified another detective's statement on a police report, claiming that deputies saw one of the suspects throw a case containing a rifle onto the floor.
Based on the falsified report, the charges against the two suspects were dismissed by a judge in September of 2019.
Guerrero-Gonzalez and Lopez have been placed on paid administrative leave and their peace officer powers have been suspended, according to LASD.
"Sheriff Alex Villanueva expects all members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department to hold themselves to the highest ethical and professional standards at all times," the department said in a statement. "Criminal misconduct will not be tolerated and department members who allegedly violate the law will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent. This Department-led investigation serves as an example of the thorough accountability processes in place and our commitment to holding anyone who violates the law accountable."
Both were scheduled to be arraigned Friday afternoon in L.A. County Superior Court in downtown L.A.
