Philly cop arrested for third time

IN HIS final official action as Philadelphia's police commissioner, Charles Ramsey did what he had done far too many times during his tenure - he fired a cop, according to police spokesman Lt. John Stanford.

But the case of Officer Deric Lewis is unique, because Ramsey already had fired Lewis once before - in 2010, after he was arrested for the second time that year on charges of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person, according to police and court records.

Somehow, though, as is so often the case in Philadelphia, the twice-arrested officer got his job back and was working as a cop in the 19th District when Upper Darby police responded to the home he shares with his wife, on Drexel Avenue near Bloomfield, around midnight Dec. 28.

Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said Lewis' wife called 911 and told the operator: " 'Please hurry. He has a gun and he's going to kill me.' "

But when Upper Darby cops arrived on the scene, both Lewis and his wife "turned against the police," Chitwood said. Lewis, a nine-year veteran of the force, refused to give his identity, and started cursing and pointing in the face of one of the officers, according to Chitwood.

When Lewis was told to back up, and refused, the cop put his hand on Lewis' chest to "create a separation," Chitwood said, but Lewis slapped the officer's hand away and "continued to be disorderly."

His wife was "noncooperative" throughout the incident, Chitwood said.

Lewis, 35, was charged with simple assault and two counts of harassment for his conduct toward police, Chitwood said.

On Monday, a woman answered the phone at a number listed for Lewis. She could be heard talking with Lewis in the background. When asked if he would like to comment, the woman refused to give the phone to Lewis and said: "I'm sure he doesn't give a s- about what you write. He's on his way back to work right now."

However, Stanford, the police spokesman, said that on Jan. 4, Lewis was suspended for 30 days with the intent to dismiss.

According to Chitwood and online court records, Lewis was arrested twice in 2010 - once June 26 for simple assault and recklessly endangering another person, and again Nov. 27 for terroristic threats, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person. Both cases appear to have been withdrawn after the witness failed to appear in court.

Stanford did not have information regarding Lewis' June 2010 arrest, but said the November 2010 arrest was for domestic assault. Lewis was fired as a result of the arrest, but when the witness failed to appear in court and the case was dismissed, Lewis got his job back through arbitration, Stanford said.

Stanford said that if cops are the victims and witnesses in Lewis' most current case, the case is more likely to move forward.

"This time, if the assault is against police, I'm pretty sure those officers will be responding to the hearing," he said.

farrs@phillynews.com

215-854-4225

On Twitter: @FarFarrAway

Online: ph.ly/crime

Blog: ph.ly/Delco