Six San Francisco police officers have been indicted by a federal grand jury on corruption charges stemming from alleged threats against low-income residents of long-term hotels, illegal searches and drug distribution.
The indictment, made public Thursday, names five current and one former officer on charges of conspiracies to violate civil rights, theft of money and valuables from suspects, drug distribution and falsification of records. Officers Arshad Razzak, 41, Richard Yick, 36, and Raul E. Elias, 44, all of Southern Station and Sgt. Ian Furminger, 47, officer Edmond Robles, 46, and former officer Reynaldo Vargas, 45, all of Mission Station.
According to the indictment Razzak, Yick and Elias searched the Single Room Occupancy (SRO) HenryHotel rooms of two people without legal justification. Officers Razzak and Yick then allegedly falsified police reports in order to justify searching the residences without warrants. In addition, they were accused of falsifying an informant payment, allegedly to obstruct and investigation by the FBI.
The searches came to light when the Public Defenders office posted surveillance video online of police at the HenryHotel searching rooms without warrants.
According to the indictment, Furminger, Robles and Vargas stole money, computers, electronic devices and gift cards from suspects while they were executing search warrants, making arrests or seizing evidence, according to the indictment.
They allegedly took items between 2009 and 2011.
In one instance, Vargas allegedly took a $500 Apple gift card from a suspect and used it to purchase an iPhone and an iPod nano at a San Francisco Apple store.
In another case, Vargas allegedly gave marijuana to two police informants and told them to sell the marijuana and split the proceeds with Furminger and Robles.
Case: U.S. v. Razzak, No. CR14-102, U.S. v. Furminger, No.CR4-103.
TrialInsider.com 