April 23, 2015
Source/Philadelphia Police Department
Three Philadelphia police officers face charges, from left: Roderick Walton, 50; Christopher Hulmes, 42; and Christopher Jackson, 31.
Three Philadelphia police officers have been arrested on separate charges ranging from animal cruelty to theft.
Philadelphia District Attorney R. Seth Williams announced the arrests Thursday morning.
The three officers have been identified as Roderick Walton, 50, Christopher Hulmes, 42, and Christopher Jackson, 31.
“The vast majority of Philadelphia police officers are nothing short of good men and women who are dedicated to protecting the citizens of the City of Philadelphia within the law. Unfortunately, there are a few like these three officers, who have decided to break the law,” Williams said. “Whether it be animal cruelty, perjury, theft or any other crime, our city deserves better then what Officers Roderick, Hulmes and Jackson have given us.”
Walton was charged with cruelty to animals after the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PSPCA) received an anonymous tip about an abused dog. A Humane Society police officer was sent to Walton’s home where a Cane Corso named “Bear” was suffering from a broken leg in what prosecutors described as “a damp and moldy back basement room."
According to the DA’s office, Walton admitted that the dog was “like that for a week.” The dog was dirty and smelled of urine and mold, animal cruelty investigators said .
Walton allegedly said that he was too busy to take the dog to a vet for treatment, authorities said. “Bear” was later euthanized.
Walton was hired by the Philadelphia Police Department in 1991 and assigned to the 14th Police District. He is currently on desk duty awaiting trial.
Hulmes was charged with perjury, among other criminal allegations, in connection with two narcotics arrests in 2010. Hulmes prepared the paperwork and affidavit of probable cause for search warrants used in the arrests. Prosecutors say Hulmes made false statements under oath and on the police paperwork.
Hulmes has been with the force since 1996 and assigned to the Narcotics Strike Force in 2000. He has been temporarily re-assigned to desk duty at the Differential Police Response Unit.
Jackson has been charged with theft and receiving stolen property after allegedly confiscating the cell phone of a homicide witness and failing to return it.
A phone record search revealed that, nearly two weeks later, Jackson had taken the phone, a Samsung Galaxy S, to a local mobile store and had it changed over to his account and phone number, officials said.
Jackson was hired by the department in 2006 and assigned to the 25th Police District. He also is on desk duty awaiting trial.
