By Leslie Griffy
Mercury News
SAN JOSE, Calif. — A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer in San Jose has been arrested on suspicion of illegally detaining people and posing as a cop.
Thomas Murphy faces two counts of detaining a person “under the color of authority” and of impersonating a peace officer, according to Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office spokesman Nick Muyo.
The charges stem from an alleged incident where Murphy used a flashing red light in his dark green sport-utility vehicle to pull over a car in San Jose on Highway 101 at the 13th Street off-ramp. The man told investigators that Murphy questioned him and then searched his car and seized his property.
Muyo declined to say what Murphy is believed to have taken. He also wouldn’t release Murphy’s hometown.
However, Muyo did say that investigators believe Murphy made several “traffic stops” on his way to and from work as a Customs officer in the North Bay between October 2006 and September 2007.
“Clearly, making vehicle stops was not part of his job,” Muyo said.
Murphy, who turned himself in, is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 25. He has been put on administrative leave from his Customs and Border Patrol job.
Investigators believe that other victims of Murphy’s alleged traffic stops may not have come forward. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call special agent Lamont Scott at (510) 637-5051.
Copyright 2008 San Jose Mercury News