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A Philadelphia police sergeant who said he was shot last month by an unidentified black man in the city's Overbrook section actually fabricated the entire story and shot himself, Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said this morning.
Sgt. Robert Ralston, a 21-year veteran of the department, admitted to homicide detectives early this morning that his previously reported story was false.
Ramsey called the incident, "a terrible and embarrassing chapter in our history."
Asked why Ralston concocted the tale and injured himself, Ramsey said he didn't know.
"There's some speculation he did it to get attention, or to get transferred," Ramsey said.
Ralston will be suspended for 30 days with the intent to dismiss, Ramsey said. Ralston, married with five children, will face no criminal charges in the case, because he was offered immunity in exchange for his confession.
Ralston will also have to pay the cost of the massive manhunt that was sparked by his tale on April 5, Ramsey said. Police spent hours combing the West Philadelphia neighborhood for possible suspects, but no one was formally questioned or arrested. The Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge No. 5, posted a $10,000 reward for information leading to the suspect.
Ralston said he was on patrol in the early hours of April 5 when he stopped two men for questioning. One of the men ran, the other drew a gun and put it to Ralston's head, he told police. Ralston said he knocked the gun out of the way and it went off, grazing him in the shoulder. He told police he shot at the man as he ran off and possibly struck him.
From the start, police said the facts of the case didn't add up. There was powder residue on his shirt that matched his own service weapon, indicating he was shot at close range. His reaction to the shooting also drew suspicion, and police said he seemed eager to cast himself in the role of a hero.
Ramsey said Ralston's badge number would be retired, and that no other officer would ever wear the same number.
Ralston apparently described his assailant as black because the area where the shooting took place is predominantly African American, the commissioner said.
Source: Associated Press
Kevin Eason is a freelance editorial cartoonist and illustrator from New Jersey. His brand of satire covers news events in politics, entertainment, sports and much more. Learn more about the artist at www.kevineasoncartoons.com
Comments: (8)
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By: offthehook on 5/11/2010 6:35PM
REAL JERK!!!
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By: Juana on 5/11/2010 8:18PM
Suspended for 30 days with the intent for dismiss? WTF? We are talking about a police sargeant. A man who is paid to protect the public. Do you know what could have happened to the black men in Philly? For one, every fuggN cop on the force was looking to bring down a black man. Two, isn't there a law against people saying that a black man did something while actually being a white or some other race? This is truly fugged up. No brotha is that town was safe while the police force was out looking for ANY black man to arrest. This is pathetic. He needs to go down, really down.
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By: Tre on 5/11/2010 9:20PM
Disgrace to any uniform. I am in law enforcement and I think anyone who disgraces the uniform with criminal activity should be prosecuted to the FULL extent of the law. Immunity my @$$!We are held to a higher standard and should be made an example of when we do things of this nature. He needs to be behind bars. I hope his wife leaves him. He'll never be in law enforcement anywhere again. That's the only good thing I see coming out of it.
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By: mannup on 5/11/2010 9:23PM
It's a sad sign in this day and past ages, that anything bad that happens it always has to be blacks who was involved. The media have plastered so many incidents concerning blacks and crime that its second nature to the slick and conning whites to blame blacks for what ever reason their evil hearts desire and the vast media outlets sents out the item on their front pages. stating the so called victim's plea as truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth until the lies are found out then the next day on page nine in small print the news paper writes even a smaller rebutal about the false hood. What a sorry lot!
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By: Mimi on 5/12/2010 12:33AM
I SEE THESE WHITE COWARDLY LYING BASTARDS ARE A DIME A DOZEN.
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By: wilsontheman223 on 5/12/2010 5:23AM
lol, the one time a black guy didnt do it. black people are always assaulting police. its no secret (even to the police) that black people hate cops. and the cops know this so of course their going to be cautious around black people. your always attacking them! the city i live in they go through hell doing there job because all the black people give them trouble at every turn. cant fault the cops for protecting themselves. maybe not in this particular case but in most. and nobody bring up the rodney king case back in the 90's cause that was a fluke. it usually doesnt happen that way. usually police are assaulted and they have protect their lives by attacking blacks. not racist, just self-defense
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By: Che on 5/12/2010 12:17PM
Wilsontheman223... This cop was not protecting himself. He was being ignorant and close minded.
And the reason black people "hate cops" is because of the ignorance that this police officer displayed.
I don't know where you come from; however just because all you hear about are black people does not mean it is just the black people. Everyone is the same. Every race screws the law over.
And in this case, there was no self defense. This man is racist and should be ashamed of himself.
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By: Imjustsayin on 2/21/2011 11:32AM
wilsontheman223...took your DA(Dumb @ss) vitamin I see. When have the police ever been there to protect the black race. At one time they WERE THE MAIN persecutors! Who turned on the hoses and who filmed it??? Who let the dogs loose? Who beat, raped, framed, demeaned, and belittled? What reasons do they have to trust cops of any color. Some officers that I have come across in the past have been arrogant, egotistical and quite simply effn BULLIES! They think that they are above the law! The laws written by mere men do not apply to officers of the law. They play by a different rule book altogether. Not Racist just self defense??? Your logic is BullSh!t!
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