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Judge convicts Baltimore Police officer of lying in court, misconduct in office
A Baltimore Circuit judge convicted Officer Michael O’Sullivan of perjury Thursday for lying about a criminal case and misconduct in office.
O’Sullivan, 44, testified under oath that he had seen Yusuf Smith ditch a handgun while running from officers on The Alameda in May 2018. Prosecutors, however, said they checked body camera footage and discovered O’Sullivan couldn’t have seen what he testified to in court.
A grand jury indicted him on charges of misdemeanor perjury and misconduct in May. He was suspended with pay at the time.
An officer since 2000, Sullivan last worked in North Baltimore. He remains suspended from the department, a police spokeswoman said Thursday.
O’Sullivan made $112,900 in salary and overtime in the fiscal year ended June 30, according to city salary records.
Prosecutors dropped the case against Smith.
“It is our responsibility to pursue justice for the citizens of Baltimore by holding all criminal actors accountable even if they wear a uniform and a badge,” Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby said in a news release. "The nature of these cases is challenging but accountability is more important than any challenge we may face.”
Outside the courtroom Thursday, O’Sullivan declined to comment. He was convicted in a three-day bench trial by Circuit Judge Charles Dorsey.
He is scheduled for sentencing Dec. 3 and faces as much as 10 years in prison.
