Baltimore Police Sergeant Thomas Allers has been arrested on federal racketeering charges. He is the eighth Baltimore City police officer charged in a scandal involving the department's Gun Trace Task Force (GTTF).
According to the federal indictment, Allers stole money from victims, swore out false affidavits and submitted false incident reports. The 49-year-old joined BPD in 1996. He was tabbed to head the GTTF, a specialized unit created to investigate gun crimes, in July 2013.
Allers is accused of committing the crimes from 2014 through 2016 when he was the officer-in-charge of the GTTF. He was pulled off the task force in June 2016.
Related: Two Baltimore police detectives plead guilty to armed robberies in racketeering case
Related: 7 Baltimore police officers indicted in racketeering conspiracy
Investigators say in some cases, Allers stole money that was legally earned, ranging from $700 to $66,000. In one case, Allers and other members of the GTTF, are accused of executing a search warrant at a home in Baltimore and taking $200 from a woman's purse. That money belonged to the woman's daughter who had received it the day before during her birthday party.
In another case from April 2016, the indictment alleges Allers and members of the GTTF arrested one person and then robbed the people inside the home of more than $10,000 and then filed a false report that failed to mention any money being seized. In that case, one of the men inside the home was later shot and killed because couldn't repay an outstanding drug debt.
Allers faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. He is scheduled to be in court Wednesday afternoon.
Last month, two of the detectives who were originally indicted in March changed their plea to guilty. Detectives Evodio Hendrix and Maurice Ward are now scheduled for sentencing in February.
Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis released the following statement on Wednesday's arrest:
"The Baltimore Police Department remains dedicated to constitutional policing. I condemn any and all criminal activity that erodes our trust with the community. We are and have been embedded with the FBI /Baltimore field office’s Public Corruption Task Force. This partnership ensures that police officers that commit criminal misconduct will face the certainty of accountability."
In a statement, Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby said allegations of misconduct against police officers undermines public trust and impacts public safety.
“I am severely troubled by today's news that another Baltimore Police Sergeant has been federally indicted on allegations of racketeering. These types of accusations not only undermine public trust in the criminal justice system but have a direct impact on public safety.
Unfortunately, similar to the circumstances surrounding the previous seven federally indicted officers and the more recent body worn camera incidents, our office will have to expend even more valuable resources to evaluate the impact this latest indictment will have on closed and pending cases. As prosecutors, we will remain vigilant in our pursuit of justice on all fronts and we will continue to do our part to restore public trust and build confidence in the criminal justice system."
