BPD officer convicted for theft and misconduct in office, sentencing set for February 2024

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officer Eric Payton has been convicted in a bench trial for theft and misconduct in office, according to a release from the Office of the State's Attorney for Baltimore City.

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Payton will be sentenced on February 5, 2024.

Assistant State's Attorney Kimberly K.P. Rothwell of the State's Attorney's Public Trust and Police Integrity Unit prosecuted this case.

"The actions of Officer Payton not only victimized this local business, but eroded the fragile trust between community and law enforcement," said State's Attorney Ivan Bates. "Every single upstanding officer in the police department pays the price when one of their own casts ethics aside to commit a crime against the very people they are supposed to protect and serve. I thank my Public Trust & Police Integrity Unit for pursuing and achieving justice in this case and the Baltimore Police Officers who reported this egregious act and testified in court to the crime that occurred."

On September 20, 2023, at 1:35 a.m., a BPD officer responded to the 4800 block of Belair Road to conduct a business check and observed the front door that was slightly open. The release says that the BPD officer called for backup to the location, and Officer Eric Payton responded. The officers did a walkthrough of the property, looked for contact information for the owner with negative results, secured the property, and left a business card before leaving the area.

Just before 2 p.m. on the same day, a person affiliated with the business contacted police to report a missing envelope containing money at the location. Upon checking the security cameras throughout the business, the person observed two officers walking into the building, where one of the officers was seen on cameras kicking the envelope that was on the floor, picking it up, and putting it into their pocket. When officers responding to the business complaint observed the surveillance footage, they contacted the Evidence Control Unit and inquired if any property was submitted under the complaint number.

According to the release, the total amount of money contained in the envelope was $111.

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The release says that misconduct in office "carries no maximum penalty so long as the sentence is not cruel and unusual." Theft between $100 and $1500 carries a maximum penalty of six months of incarceration and/or $500 in fines. Both offenses are classified as misdemeanors.