L.A. police officer charged with evidence tampering, theft while on duty
A 31-year-old officer with the Los Angeles Police Department is facing nearly a decade in prison for allegedly tampering with evidence and stealing property during traffic and pedestrian stops, officials announced Thursday.
The charges against Alan Carrillo stem from a broader investigation into complaints about the conduct of officers assigned to LAPD’s Mission Area Gang Enforcement Detail, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
The investigation, according to LAPD, was initiated after the discovery of a pattern of Mission Area Gang Enforcement officers “intentionally failing to properly document traffic stops or activate body-worn cameras.”
Authorities accuse Carrillo, who joined the force in 2018, of stealing personal items, including metal brass knuckles and knives, during stops on individuals on April 19 and June 15, 2023. The officer is then believed to have been inconsistent when documenting the property in his reports, leaving the stolen property unaccounted for.
“The public’s trust and the integrity of law enforcement are undermined when officers tamper with evidence and steal items from the public,” District Attorney George Gascón said. “Police officers are entrusted with upholding justice and protecting our communities, and any breach of that trust is unacceptable. Our office is committed to holding Mr. Carrillo accountable for his actions so we can restore the public’s trust in law enforcement.”
The charges against the 31-year-old officer come just a day after charges were levied against 39-year-old Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Jessica Lynn, who is accused of pocketing cash from a person during a traffic stop.
Where Carrillo is concerned, LAPD Chief Dominic Choi said, “I am extremely concerned that an officer broke public trust and violated the fundamental principles of policing, and I will ensure there is accountability.”
The DA’s office charged the 31-year-old with two counts of altering, planting or concealing evidence as a peace officer and three counts of petty theft.
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Carrillo was booked at the department’s Valley Jail Section and was relieved of his police powers pending the outcome of LAPD’s administrative leave investigation, police said. His arraignment hearing has yet to be scheduled, but the court set the officer’s bail at $100,000.
If convicted as charged, Carillo faces seven years and six months in prison.
This case is being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Complaint Investigation Division, Internal Affairs Division and Professional Standards Bureau.
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