LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Los Angeles Police Department officials are investigating allegations that an officer planted drugs on a suspect, an act that appears to have been captured on a body camera.
The allegations and the video footage were first reported on CBS2 Friday, which also verify the pending investigation.
The incident occurred in April, when LAPD officer Samuel Lee is shown on the video picking up a small bag that subsequently tested positive for cocaine, and placing it in the wallet of the suspect, Ronald Shields.
Shields was being arrested for his alleged involvement in a hit and run crash. It is not clear from the footage where the arrest occurred.
A second officer, identified only as Gaxiola, is shown picking up Shields' wallet and showing it to Lee as he contemplates what to do with the packet.
During a pretrial hearing, the officers testified the cocaine was found in Shields' left front pocket. The body camera footage was used for refute that claim.
After the video aired, the LAPD issued a statement reaffirming the department's commitment to treating all suspects fairly.
``The LAPD takes all allegations of misconduct seriously and, as in all cases, will conduct a thorough investigation,'' the statement said.
Mayor Eric Garcetti also weighed in, saying he ``expects the highest integrity from everyone who wears the badge.''