A Baltimore, Maryland, police officer, Dequwan Houchins, 30, has been indicted for allegedly making false traffic stop reports over several months. Prosecutors say Houchins avoided service calls by claiming he was on traffic stops when he was actually “sitting idle in his car.”

Houchins faces four counts of false entry in a public record and five counts of misconduct in office. If convicted, he could face up to 12 years in prison and a $4,000 fine for each false entry charge.

The indictment reveals that on one occasion, while reporting himself unavailable, Houchins was allegedly ordering a smoothie. His irregular work patterns came to light after a complaint in December prompted an undercover investigation. Baltimore police detectives followed Houchins during four traffic patrol shifts between April 8 and May 13, tailing him for two hours each time.

Baltimore city state’s attorney Ivan Bates condemned the actions, stating, “The allegations in this indictment reflect a troubling disregard for that responsibility. Falsifying official records for personal convenience is a serious breach of public trust.”

Baltimore’s mayor, Brandon Scott, described Houchins’s alleged conduct as “shameful.” Police commissioner Richard Worley called Houchins “just a lazy cop who didn’t want to do anything and wanted to collect a paycheck,” adding that Houchins’s inaction likely forced other officers to cover for him.

Houchins reportedly expressed confusion over the situation, saying, “What the hell? I’ve wanted to become a police officer since I was 18 and enjoyed my job. But now I’m like: ‘What the hell is going on?’”

Additional complaints against other officers include failing to report for shifts while logging hours, inflating hours by clocking in and out from home, and submitting fraudulent doctor’s notes for sick leave.

Sources