Veteran cop charged with lying about an assault

A 21-year veteran Philadelphia police officer has been arrested and charged with falsely claiming he was assaulted while making an arrest last year, the department said this morning.

Aleksande Shwarz, 54, who was assigned to the 2nd District, also has been charged with simple assault stemming from the arrest on March 4.

He was arrested Wednesday, the department said in a statement.

According to the statement, Shwarz was on duty on the 7700 block of Roosevelt Boulevard when he made an arrest for simple assault during which he claimed he was assaulted.

"After an investigation by the Department's Internal Affairs Bureau and the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, Shwarz was found to have made false statements to effect his arrest," the statement said without providing additional details about the incident.

For making the false claim, the officer was charges with unsworn falsification to authorities and abuse of office, police said.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey has suspended Shwarz for 30 days with the intent to dismiss.

He was released on $5,000 bail after an arraignment hearing Wednesday night.