Michael Corkery; Journal Staff Writer
December 30, 2000, Saturday, All Editions
Copyright 2000 The Providence Journal Company
The Providence Journal-Bulletin
December 30, 2000, Saturday, All Editions
(EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I.) -- A 29-year-old Providence man has been charged with bribery after he allegedly tried to pay off the police in exchange for his freedom from jail.
Shaun A. Brown, of 21 Brendale St., Apt. 1, offered a $2,000 bribe to an East Providence police officer after being arrested on drug charges last week, the police said.
Brown allegedly approached the officer who was guarding him at Rhode Island Hospital, where he was being treated for injuries Wednesday night, and offered to pay him off, the police said.
Brown injured his finger while being chased on foot by the police after a traffic stop on Taunton Avenue. The police said Brown possessed several bags of marijuana when they stopped him Wednesday night. After a brief struggle with a police officer near the parking lot of the East Providence Medical Center, Brown was taken into custody, police said.
Later that night, at Rhode Island Hospital, Brown told Patrolman Matthew W. Robinson that he would pay him $2,000 if he let him “walk out of here,” according to a police report.
While Brown was being treated by doctors, Robinson went into the hallway and called the shift commander, Lt. Armen Garo, who instructed him to “play along” with the bribe offer, the report said.
Robinson returned to the hospital room and told Brown that they would discuss the deal when he returned to the station. Until then, Robinson warned Brown to “keep his mouth shut,” and not to disclose the bribe to anyone else, according to the report.
Brown was released from the hospital after receiving about 20 stitches in his finger and was transported back to the station where he discussed the bribe with Garo.
Initially, Brown offered to pay $3,000 if the police agreed to drop the charges and release him, the report said.
Brown then reduced his offer to $2,400 and then $2,000 when he realized the police were receptive to the deal, the police said.
Brown then called his friend, who he said would drop off the money at the station. Brown told the officers that the woman would never reveal that the police let him go, the report said.
When the woman arrived with $2,000 in cash, she told the police that she thought the money was being used for bail. The woman was not charged with a crime, and agreed to be interviewed as part of the investigation, the police said.
Brown was charged with bribery of a public agent or official, and possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. He was also charged with obstructing a police officer, resisting arrest, and assault on a police officer.
In addition, Brown was wanted on a warrant for failure to appear in Superior Court on drug charges. Brown is currently being held at the Adult Correctional Institutions, the police said.
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