In 2017, 2 police officers were accused of extorting a civilian of $800 dollars. 37 year-old Sergeant Lenancio Bol, and 30 year-old Constable Daniel Requena - were allegedly caught in a sting operation after the extortion.
Bol had detained some of Estefania Gomez's friends for not having proper immigration documents. Gomez claimed she had to pay Bol $800 dollars to release her friends. They agreed to meet at Li Chee Restaurant, and according to Gomez, Bol showed up and collected the cash from her in a police vehicle. But while Bol was picking up the bribe money, he was being watched by another police vehicle. So when Bol and Requna drove off, they were intercepted by the police team. Some of the alleged bribe money was retrieved from under the vehicle, and the rest was picked up near a drain.
Sounded like an airtight case then, but today the lone policeman still facing the charge after Bol died, walked out of court a free man.
But during the trial, Gomez took the stand and told the court that she did not wish to continue with the case.
When asked if she was pressured or coerced to do so, Gomez said no and told the court that because the case happened 5 years ago doesn't remember everything.
She added that the person that extorted her is no longer before the court.
With that, Justice Sandcroft concluded that the crown did not prove its case and instructed the jury to find the lone accused, PC Daniel Requena not guilty.
Here's what he said when he came out of court:
Reporter
"How long ago this extortion case?"
PC Daniel Requena, Not Guilty - Extortion
"Five and a half years."
Reporter
"How does it feel just to know that....."
PC Daniel Requena, Not Guilty - Extortion
"I was innocent from the beginning. It feels good to be free now."
Requena said he will be suing for wrongfully being accused of a crime he never committed.
