Officer Covered Up Evidence In Arrest of Cop Killer

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NEW ORLEANS—Tonight, the NOPD announced that Officer Wardell Johnson has been placed on emergency suspension after the Public Integrity Bureau (PIB) arrested him on Monday, July 6, 2015 for his initial police response to a reported aggravated assault and actions he took after the initial investigation.

On Saturday, June 20, 2015, around 4:00 a.m., Fifth District night watch officers Wardell Johnson and Ryan Morgan responded to a report of an aggravated assault in the 2500 block of Peace Court. During the course of the initial investigation, officers learned that 33-year-old Travis Boys had pointed a .40 caliber weapon at the reporting person, a 47-year-old female, and fired one shot. The victim was not injured in the incident.

During the initial investigation, officers recovered a .38 caliber weapon belonging to the victim. Officers also recovered one spent .40 caliber casing. Officers arrested Boys in connection with the aggravated assault and outstanding warrants. Officers then transported Boys to the Fifth District.

Later that morning, Officer Daryle Holloway attempted to transport Boys to Central Lock-Up for booking. Boys shot Officer Holloway from within the vehicle during the transport, made his way into the front of the vehicle and fled the scene. Shortly after, Officer Holloway crashed the vehicle at a nearby gas station. NOPD identified Boys as the suspect for the murder of Officer Holloway and immediately began a multi-agency manhunt. Officers arrested Boys nearly 24 hours later.

PIB immediately began an investigation into how Boys was able to shoot Officer Holloway and escape custody. During the course of the investigation, detectives interviewed Officers Johnson and Morgan about their role in the initial arrest of Boys. Based on the PIB interview and review of footage from both officers’ body worn cameras, detectives learned that Officer Johnson deliberately attempted to leave the .40 caliber casing on the scene of the reported aggravated assault and not process it for evidence. In addition, detectives learned that Officer Johnson recovered a box of unused .40 caliber bullets at the scene and did not process it as evidence in the investigation.

During a PIB interview today, Officer Johnson told detectives he did not remember where he left the box of bullets and wasn’t able to confirm why he chose not to report the box of bullets as evidence. Shortly after the interview, detectives observed Johnson removing the box of bullets from his vehicle and throwing them out of the window while driving near Morrison and Downman Road. In a follow-up interview today, Officer Johnson admitted to throwing the box of bullets out of his window.

Based on the evidence obtained, PIB arrested Wardell Johnson on one count of Obstruction of Justice, one count of Malfeasance in Office and one count of Theft.

“I am extremely disgusted and outraged by the lack of professionalism and integrity shown by this officer based on the evidence we discovered today,” said NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison. “This is an example of sloppy police work with a clear intent to cover it up, and it will not stand. The PIB Force Investigation Team has spent countless hours collecting and reviewing evidence in this on-going investigation and we will continue to aggressively follow every lead to ensure justice for all victims involved.”

All charges are criminal at this time. Additional administrative charges may be forthcoming based on the on-going investigation.

Johnson is a 12-year veteran of the NOPD, most recently assigned to the Fifth Police District.

At this time, Officer Morgan will not face charges.

The investigation into how Boys obtained a weapon and how he was able to escape custody is on-going.

The Independent Police Monitor is monitoring the on-going investigation. The PIB Force Investigation Team is the lead on the investigation

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