Jury in Philadelphia 'Rogue Cop' Civil Case Hears of Earlier Incident
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A federal jury today heard disturbing allegations of a pattern of violent, criminal behavior by a former Philadelphia police officer who shot and killed a 21-year-old man in his Port Richmond neighborhood in 2009.
Frank Tepper was convicted of the first-degree murder of William Panas Jr. (see related story), and is now serving a life sentence. Now, a civil suit seeks to hold the city responsible for not taking action against this rogue cop (another related story).
Two witnesses have testified about a 1995 incident in which Officer Frank Tepper allegedly attacked them because they spoke with his wife on the street.
Thomas Dolt says Tepper dove into the window of their car.
"He tried to pull the keys out and we sped off," Dolt testified, "and he proceeded to follow us and push us through street lights while we were at stop lights, trying to push us through the oncoming traffic."
Dolt says Tepper -- a stranger in civilian clothes and driving a civilian car -- continued to follow them until they saw a marked police car and stopped to ask for help.
Dolt says Tepper pistol-whipped the driver. Both men were taken into custody. Dolt was later released with no charges against him; the driver faced summary offenses.
Documents filed with the court claim there was an investigation and Tepper was suspended for two days.
