Baltimore Police officer guilty of theft, misconduct for stealing cash from business, judge rules

A city judge convicted a Baltimore police officer Wednesday of theft and misconduct in office, finding that the officer stole from a business while on duty.

Eric Payton, 46, who is a Baltimore Police Department veteran of seven years, had been suspended without pay since being charged in September.

“The officer, in full uniform, stole from the very entity he was called to protect,” said Baltimore Circuit Judge Yvette M. Bryant, finding Payton guilty of both counts.

Her ruling followed about six hours of testimony and argument by attorneys. She considered the evidence in chambers for roughly 20 minutes.

Around 1:30 a.m. Sept. 20, Payton met his partner at a business in Northeast Baltimore to check for a burglary. His partner, Officer Francisco Jeanty, had found the front door unlocked and ajar and called for backup before going in.

Inside, the officers searched for any employees or anyone who didn’t belong, announcing themselves by yelling “Baltimore City Police” and shining their flashlights throughout the building, according to Jeanty’s body-camera footage, which prosecutors played at Payton’s trial.

The business’s security cameras also captured the officers while they were in the building.

While they were in the garage bays, Payton saw something on the ground and kicked it before reaching down, grabbing it and putting it in the left pocket of his pants, the footage showed.

It was an envelope with approximately $120 in cash — accounts differed on the amount of money.

After putting the money in his pocket, Payton shifted his attention to finding a phone number to ask the business owner to return and lock the door.

He didn’t tell Jeanty, or any other officer, he had collected cash. He went home with it at the end of his shift.

Payton’s testimony echoed a statement he gave to investigators two days after taking the money.

“I wanted to submit it (to evidence control),” Payton said in court. “It slipped my mind. It really slipped my mind. I forgot all about it until the next day at the [Public Integrity Bureau].”

Fatiha Mrabti, the owner of the business, which leased cars to cab drivers, said she noticed the missing money when she contacted a driver whose payment was missing and checked her security camera footage.

“I was shocked at the beginning,” Mrabti testified. “Then I called the police.”

This article may be updated.