> 6 Miami cops investigated for planting gun on homeless man
>
> The Associated Press
> Web-posted: 1:38 p.m. June 24, 2000
>
> MIAMI -- Six police officers have been assigned to desk duty while
> investigators determine whether they planted a gun on a homeless
> man who had just been shot in the leg by an officer.
>
> Investigators say a .45-caliber pistol found at the scene was
> planted there by officers, to make it appear that the shooting victim,
> Daniel Hoban, had been armed. Hoban, who survived, actually had
> been holding a radio.
>
> Miami Police Chief Raul Martinez on Friday ordered the officers to
> surrender their guns, badges and city patrol cars. They continue to
> receive their pay. The six are: Sgt. Jose F. Acuna, 42; Officer Arturo
> Beguiristain, 39; Officer Jorge L. Garcia, 37; Sgt. Rafael "Ray"
> Martinez, 40; Officer John T. Mervolion, 45; and Officer Wilfredo
> "Willie" Perez, 34.
>
> Although they are the subjects of an internal affairs investigation,
> they have not been criminally charged.
>
> One former officer already convicted of official misconduct in the
> case is Rolando Jacobo, who told The Miami Herald that all six
> officers played a role in the incident. He said that after Hoban was
> shot by Officer Jorge Castello, Martinez decided to plant the gun.
>
> "He started waving. 'Bring the sock, bring the sock."' Jacobo said.
> "Sock" is the code word for a throw-down gun some officers might
> carry to plant on unarmed suspects, he said.
>
> Beguiristain has denied any wrongdoing. The other officers and
> their lawyers could not be reached for comment.
>
> It's the first major disciplinary action for Martinez since he became
> police chief in May, filling a vacancy left by Chief William O'Brien, who
> resigned in the aftermath of the Elian Gonzalez federal raid.
>
> The move comes less than a week after the city settled a fatal
> police shooting lawsuit for $2.5 million. One of the officers reassigned
> Friday, Beguiristain, was also involved in that 1996 case.
>
> The June 26, 1997, shooting of Hoban is being investigated by
> the Miami-Dade state attorney's office and federal prosecutors. State
> prosecutors are pursuing a possible perjury case against the officers
> while federal officials are probing possible civil rights violations.