Constable Pierre Martin, 25, is charged with accepting two bribes from Garrick Lewis in 2007, amounting to $2,500.
Martin arrested Lewis on February 5, 2007, and charged him with using obscene language, resisting arresting and threatening to kill him (Officer Martin).
It is alleged that Martin told Lewis that if he gave him $3,000, he would not have to go to court.
Lewis testified that he made two payments to Martin, one for $1,500 and one for $1,000.
Martin testified that Lewis offered him money not to show up in court but he refused. The officer said he did not report the attempted bribe.
He was arrested the morning of September 12, one of the days he was expected to appear as a witness in the case against Lewis.
Officers arrested Martin after he went to pick up ten tightly-wrapped $100 bills that were thrown from a car. He said he did not know what they were until later.
The officer said he had been to all of Lewis' court dates expect one, when asked for a postponement because he was not feeling well.
Martin is presently barred from duty. The case was expected to be put before the jury yesterday.
Full Story in The Nassau Guardian here
Full Story in The Tribune here (Page A01)
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