Retired Police Sergeant Pleads Guilty To Planting Fake Gun At Crime Scene
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A retired Baltimore police sergeant has entered a guilty plea after federal prosecutors claim he planted a fake gun at a crime scene to justify an arrest.
Former Sgt. Keith Gladstone has admitted to planting a BB gun at a 2014 crime scene.
Retired BPD Sergeant Indicted Also Being Sued For 2010 Drug Plant Incident
The attorney for Gladstone said it was time for the former sergeant to take responsibility for mistakes he made while on the job.
"He wanted to take responsibility, and he wanted to pay his debt to the citizens of Baltimore City when he wasn't doing the right thing," his attorney said.
Court documents say that the leader of the Gun Trace Task Force -- Wayne Jenkins -- called Gladstone in a panic to help cover for officers who had run over and seriously injured a suspect.
Testimony revealed Friday that Gladstone and another officer were on duty, but at dinner, when the phone call came in. They then went to a home and got a BB gun and brought the fake weapon to the scene.
Gladstone reportedly mentored Jenkins who is now doing time in prison.
"There have been a lot of accusations about a lot of things, but one thing I'd like to point out is that Mr. Gladstone is not a member of the Gun Trace Task Force," Gladstone's attorney said.
Gladstone's sentencing is in September, but he faces a separate civil suit. Umar Burley alleged that Gladstone planted drugs on him in 2010 after he had fled from officers.
Burley drove away from a traffic stop which escalated to a police pursuit through northwest Baltimore. Ultimately, it ended in a deadly crash, killing an 87-year-old man who was not connected to the case.
Gladstone is facing up to 10 years in prison.