PROVIDENCE, R.I.
-- Suspended North Providence Police Chief John J. Whiting took the witness
stand in his own defense Monday and denied that he told a Pawtucket police
officer to lie about $714 that he seized from a stripper's purse after a car
chase in Pawtucket last summer.
Whiting, 58,
testified that he gave the money to John Brown, the police officer, and told
him to bring it to the police station and log it as evidence. In response to a
series of questions from his lawyer, John Harwood, Whiting said that he pressed
Brown to take the money.
"Where did
you get it from?" Brown asked, according to Whiting.
Answered Whiting:
"Just take it and log it as evidence. He was very hesitant to take it.''
Whiting returns to
the stand when the trial resume at 2 p.m.