Monday, July 27th, 2015. Aaron Humes Reporting: Chief Magistrate Ann-Marie Smith told 29 year old Police Constable Dean Perez today that his three-month
jail sentence for theft was her message to society that no police officer should use their uniform to take advantage of people.
Perez, who has been with the Police Department for nine years, was convicted last Thursday of the theft of money and a cell phone from Jose Hernandez when Perez broke into Hernandez’s home last October in San Pedro Town.
In his plea for mitigation Perez, represented by attorney, Leeroy Banner, expressed remorse for what he did and he conveyed his apology to the victim, Jose Hernandez. Perez, accompanied by a special constable, went to Hernandez’s apartment to detain Hernandez on the strength of a commitment warrant for child maintenance.
Perez then stole Hernandez’s Geo cellular phone and $600 that was in an identification folder. After his conviction last week the officer said he had planned to appeal; it is not clear if his admission today changes that.