Former NYPD Detective Louis Scarcella Defends His Tactics In 1991 Murder Case
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A retired NYPD detective whose tactics leading to some 70 convictions are being scrutinized by the Brooklyn district attorney's office took the witness stand Wednesday to discuss one of his old cases.
Testifying for the first time, Louis Scarcella tried to minimize his role in the conviction of Rosean Hargrave for the 1991 killing of a correction officer in Crown Heights, WCBS 880's Irene Cornell reported. Prosecutors are reviewing claims that Hargrave was framed.
Former NYPD Detective Louis Scarcella Defends His Tactics In 1991 Murder Case
Scarcella defended his use of the same crack-addicted prostitute as a witness in multiple murder cases, describing Teresa Gomez as a "very intelligent girl who spoke three languages." She happened to be a great source of information in Brooklyn in the 1980s, when crack-related murders were the order of the day, the ex-cop said.
The former detective admitted he gave Gomez food and money, but insisted he was not alone in making her a key witness. Scarcella said prosecutors interviewed her, too, and decided she was reliable.
Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson has already cleared several defendants Scarcella helped put away.
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