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Homicide Detective's Attorney Addresses Investigation

By Tony Hanson

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Philadelphia Police continue to hold a possible crime scene, near 4th and Westmoreland Street in North Philadelphia, as investigators search for clues to a suspected 2012 murder in which the victim is still missing. And this case is linked to a now benched homicide detective under investigation for his conduct in several murder investigations (see related story).

Detective Ron Dove was removed from street duty October 1st and hasn't worked since as authorities began investigating possible interference in an investigation of his girlfriend Erica Sanchez, who was charged earlier this month with murdering a man in early September.

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey says, "We don't have anything yet to indicate any criminal behavior, but we are certainly looking very closely at his involvement with Miss Sanchez."

Sources say further investigation raised concerns about Dove's conduct, in connection with other murder investigations. And information on one of his electronic devices led police to begin a search for the missing person in an overgrown, debris strewn underpass near 4th and Westmoreland.

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey says, "We are going to look very closely not only at the murder Ms. Sanchez was involved with, but there are a couple of others that she was either involved, or on the periphery, or had an associate that may have been involved. We just need to look at everything and leave no stone unturned."

But Dove's attorney, commenting for the first time, says Dove has always been a good detective dedicated to the victims of crime.

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