Sharon
Hill cop enters plea on assault charges
MEDIA COURTHOUSE — A
suspended part-time Sharon Hill police officer entered an open guilty plea
Tuesday to two counts of simple assault and one count of making a false report,
all misdemeanors, for a December incident at a SEPTA trolley stop where he
shook, punched and body slammed two commuters.
Stephen J. Capizzi, 27, of the 100 block of Sharon Avenue in Collingdale, was arrested Dec. 21 and charged with multiple misdemeanor and summary offenses for the Dec. 5 incident, including four counts of simple assault, two counts of harassment and single counts of making false reports and tampering with a public record. Capizzi was held on simple assault, harassment and false report offenses following a preliminary hearing in March.
Capizzi, who remains free on $50,000 unsecured bail, is a 2002 graduate of Academy Park High School who joined the police force in January 2009. As a part-time officer, he was not salaried and was paid when he worked.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, Capizzi entered the Sharon Hill Trolley Station on the evening of Dec. 5 and patted down two young males, asking, “Where’s the weed?”
Stephen J. Capizzi, 27, of the 100 block of Sharon Avenue in Collingdale, was arrested Dec. 21 and charged with multiple misdemeanor and summary offenses for the Dec. 5 incident, including four counts of simple assault, two counts of harassment and single counts of making false reports and tampering with a public record. Capizzi was held on simple assault, harassment and false report offenses following a preliminary hearing in March.
Capizzi, who remains free on $50,000 unsecured bail, is a 2002 graduate of Academy Park High School who joined the police force in January 2009. As a part-time officer, he was not salaried and was paid when he worked.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, Capizzi entered the Sharon Hill Trolley Station on the evening of Dec. 5 and patted down two young males, asking, “Where’s the weed?”
When Capizzi went to
search another man at the station, a woman told him no one was doing anything
wrong, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit says an argument ensued and Capizzi grabbed the woman, shaking her before throwing her to the ground in full view of assisting officers, one of whom instructed Capizzi to stop because the woman was not resisting.
Capizzi then turned his attention back to the man he was searching when the woman intervened and attempted to body slam him to the ground, according to the affidavit. The woman reportedly suffered from abrasions on her arms and a sprained wrist.
Capizzi filed a police report that night that indicated he was checking on a call about disorderly subjects at the station. Investigators said he later changed the report to state that he saw two people arguing while driving down Chester Pike and pulled over.
The affidavit says an argument ensued and Capizzi grabbed the woman, shaking her before throwing her to the ground in full view of assisting officers, one of whom instructed Capizzi to stop because the woman was not resisting.
Capizzi then turned his attention back to the man he was searching when the woman intervened and attempted to body slam him to the ground, according to the affidavit. The woman reportedly suffered from abrasions on her arms and a sprained wrist.
Capizzi filed a police report that night that indicated he was checking on a call about disorderly subjects at the station. Investigators said he later changed the report to state that he saw two people arguing while driving down Chester Pike and pulled over.
Sharon Hill Police Chief Bob Tinsley had previously said
that he became aware of the incident the next day when a complaint was filed
with the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division. Capizzi was removed
from the schedule that day and was suspended without pay following his arrest.
Tinsley did not return a call for comment Tuesday.
A sentencing hearing before Judge Patricia Jenkins has been set for June 4. Defense attorney Mark Much and Assistant District Attorney Robert Manzi said they would each present people to offer testimony at that time.
A sentencing hearing before Judge Patricia Jenkins has been set for June 4. Defense attorney Mark Much and Assistant District Attorney Robert Manzi said they would each present people to offer testimony at that time.
Had enough? Write to the Speaker of the House, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515 and
demand federal hearings into the police problem in America. Demand mandatory body cameras for cops, one
strike rule on abuse, and a permanent
DOJ office on Police Misconduct.