PHILADELPHIA, PA – Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has announced the arrest and arraignment of Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Levitt, for his role in an illegal car search that resulted in the arrest of a civilian with no prior criminal record for possession of a firearm without a license.
The Philadelphia Police Department confirmed the audit of gun possession arrests last December. Following an IA investigation, Officer Levitt, a resident of Bucks County, was arrested today for his role in the April 2021 stop and search of a vehicle that culminated in the seizure of a .9mm handgun and the arrest of an individual without legal justification for Violation of Uniform Firearms Act (VUFA), D.A. Krasner said.
“As we and our partners in law enforcement work tirelessly to confront the crisis of gun violence, we must be equally dedicated to earning the trust of the public we are sworn to protect. Today’s arrest of an officer who allegedly broke that trust is disturbing and sad, but it’s also a clear sign of Police Commissioner Outlaw‘s commitment to integrity,” DA Krasner said. “We also must acknowledge the severe harm inflicted on our neighbors, particularly those who are Black and brown and disproportionately impacted, when they are stopped and searched without legal justification or service to public safety.”
Krasner said Officer Levitt along with two other officers from the 39th Police District stopped and questioned two individuals in a vehicle.
“The individuals were then asked to exit the vehicle, after which Officer Levitt entered and searched the van without a warrant or probable cause, according to investigators,” an internal department investigation found. “Officer Levitt subsequently produced the firearm, claiming it had been sticking out of an open bag. The individual to who the bag and gun belonged was arrested and charged with possession without a license. Information obtained during the course of the IA investigation, including Body Worn Camera footage, contradicted Levitt’s account.”