Crime & Safety
Police Officer Indicted for Perjury in Drug Case
Montgomery County Police Officer Colin W. O'Brien has been suspended with pay while his testimony in a drug trial is investigated.
A six-year Montgomery County police officer was indicted Thursday by a grand jury on one count of perjury tied to his testimony in a drug case.
The officer under investigation is Colin W. O’Brien, who has been suspended with pay since June 5, according to the police department. He will remain in that status through the disposition of the charges.
On Feb. 3, O’Brien testified in a drug paraphernalia trial in district court.
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He had issued a criminal citation on Nov. 1, 2013, against a Silver Spring man for possession of drug paraphernalia, The Washington Post reports. The man was found not guilty at the trial.
A complaint arose concerning the accuracy of O’Brien’s testimony and detectives from the 1st District Investigative Section investigated the allegation, police said. Their findings were presented to the grand jury this week.
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A trial date for O’Brien has not been set. Perjury is a misdemeanor and carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
O’Brien was hired on July 14, 2008 and is assigned to the 3rd District.
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