February 17, 2016
Source/Philadelphia Police Department
Philadelphia police Det. Adam O'Donnell surrendered on felony charges of aggravated assault and kidnapping, authorities said.
A Philadelphia police detective surrendered Wednesday to authorities after he was charged with assaulting and kidnapping a city man in February 2015.
Adam O'Donnell, 43, a nine-year veteran of the force, was charged with felony aggravated assault and kidnapping, and related charges, according to the Philadelphia district attorney's office.
He was suspended for 30 days by police Commissioner Richard Ross, with intent to dismiss, according to the police public affairs office.
According to police, O'Donnell was escorting Theodore Life Jr., 45, of Philadelphia, out of the police Special Victims Unit at 300 E. Hunting Park Ave. on Feb. 3, 2015. Beyond the view of security cameras, prosecutors allege the detective grabbed Life and kicked him in the knee. Life fell to the ground in pain, and then standing up, realized that he could not put any weight on his leg. O’Donnell then placed Life in an unmarked police vehicle and drove him to the Hunting Park section of the city, where he left the injured Life by the roadside.
Life, unable to walk because of the pain, called his father to find him and drive him to the hospital, authorities said. He received treatment at Albert Einstein Medical Center and Abington Memorial Hospital for a non-displaced femur fracture. Life continues to walk with a limp and receive treatment for his injuries.
“A senseless attack on one Philadelphian is an attack on all Philadelphians,” District Attorney Seth Williams said. “I also hope that by charging Mr. O’Donnell he not only understands the severity of his crime but is reminded that when law enforcement does something to clearly hurt a complainant it will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Life is a record producer, writer and musical artist according to his Twitter and LinkedIn pages.
