A warrant charging a former
Greenville police officer sheds new information on what he is accused of doing.
Heriberto Calles, age 40 of
Winterville, was charged this morning with common law obstruction of justice,
altering, destroying or stealing evidence of criminal conduct, and willfully
failing to discharge duties.
Greenville Police Sergeant Joe
Friday says Calles responded to a domestic disturbance at 305 East 13th Street
on February 17. The next day, someone involved in the case came to the police
department to provide more information. That's when other officers noticed
irregularities in the original report, according to Friday.
Police say a closer look found
Calles had destroyed photographic evidence to minimize the domestic disturbance
case.
An arrest warrant says Calles
told the victim and plaintiff in the domestic call "that this never
happened and we (the police) were never here, you need to settle this on your
own."
Another warrant says Calles
destroyed pictures taken of the domestic violence incident, while telling two
other officers to lie in the internal investigation.
The Greenville Police
Department launched an internal investigation into Calles on February 24 and
contacted the SBI on February 27, according to Friday.
Calles was placed on
administrative leave with pay on March 3, and Friday says he submitted his
resignation on March 7.
Police say the former officer
was hired in January 2010.
"The arrest of Officer
Calles serves as reminder that the law enforcement community in our city is not
above the law and that the investigative process is intact and unbiased,"
said Chief Hassan Aden. "I want our community to know that the Greenville
Police Department holds itself accountable to the highest ethical standards and
all laws that govern our society. This case was self-discovered and pursued by
the Internal Affairs Division of the Greenville Police Department. I want to
reaffirm that maintaining the public's trust is a top priority of my
administration."
Calles was given a $10,000 bond
at the magistrate's office. He made a first appearance this morning before a
District Court judge and now has a June 26th court date.
The case Calles is accused of
destroying evidence never went to court. Police say the person who brought the
case decided on March 20 to not prosecute.