Former Philadelphia police officer found guilty of perjury for falsifying details related to a traffic stop.

A former police officer in Philadelphia, Daniel Levitt, has been found guilty of perjury after a jury concluded that he lied under oath concerning the circumstances surrounding a firearm recovery during a traffic stop. The conviction came on Tuesday when the jury rejected Levitt’s assertion that he discovered a handgun protruding from a backpack that was in plain view during a 2021 encounter in Northwest Philadelphia.

At 52 years of age, Levitt had a twelve-year tenure with the Philadelphia Police Department. His arrest occurred the year after a police internal review raised serious concerns over the conduct of certain officers, particularly regarding the improper search of vehicles and individuals prior to recovering firearms. Following his arrest, Levitt was terminated from his position.

The case against him did not hinge on the legality of the firearm itself, as Tyshon Butts, the passenger in the vehicle at the time, acknowledged possessing a Glock 17 without a proper license. Instead, the trial focused on Levitt’s claim regarding the location from which the weapon was supposedly recovered.

According to prosecutors, Levitt provided misleading statements in police documentation that justified his search, falsely asserting that the handgun was visibly jutting out from the backpack. During the trial, evidence was presented, including body-worn camera footage from fellow officers, which contradicted Levitt’s account. The footage depicted Butts zipping up the backpack and placing it out of view prior to questioning.

Assistant District Attorney Clarke Beljean urged the jurors to rely on the video evidence, arguing that Levitt’s testimony lacked credibility. Beljean stated that Levitt claimed under oath to have seen the magazine of the gun sticking out of the bag when there was evidence to the contrary.

While the prosecution faced criticism regarding gaps in evidence, such as not being able to present key materials to the jury, Levitt’s defense attorney argued that the prosecution did not prove Levitt knowingly lied. The defense emphasized that there were multiple bags in the vehicle, and the prosecution failed to establish definitively which bag Levitt referred to in his testimony.

After deliberations, the jury ultimately found Levitt guilty of perjury, but the judge dismissed the charges of unsworn false statements and official oppression. Following the verdict, Levitt’s attorney expressed disappointment and announced plans to appeal. Currently, Levitt remains the only officer charged following a referral of cases to the District Attorney’s Office in connection with the incident in 2021.

This case has drawn attention to procedural practices within law enforcement and raises questions regarding the accountability mechanisms in place for police officers.

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