Two videos of Officer Matthew Zagursky were taken: one in which he accuses a driver of having “faggot ass [windshield] wipers” (they were pink for breast cancer), and another in which he threatens to confiscate the (supposedly) unregistered vehicle unless the motorist buys a ticket to an annual police fundraiser.
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Local media reports that Zagursky has been pulled from active duty and placed on administrative leave as Internal Affairs investigates the video. “Ten bucks apiece”, said the officer.
During the recorded incident, being called a blatant police shakedown, the cop is heard saying to the men, “You and your friend got any money?”
A Philadelphia police officer is facing possible criminal charges over a traffic stop.
This is not the first troubling thing the Philidelphia police department has been caught doing.
After the money is handed over, Zagursky makes a homophobic comment the car’s pink windshield wipers, which the driver says are in honor of his grandmother, a breast-cancer survivor.
The driver then hands Zagursky money and takes the tickets.
The driver said, “Breast cancer, man. My grandma went through it”.
While police are investigating the footage, Philadelphia Commissioner Charles Ramsey condemned the cop’s behavior.
“No part of that video is good”. “He’s tarnished that entire event, and the entire cause that it represents, by his actions”, said Ramsey.
Ramsey said that departmental investigators are looking into the incident to find out more details, including the identity of the driver, who posted the videos under the name Rob Stay Faded.
“You don’t wanna look like two fruitcakes”, Zagursky said as he collected $30 for the two tickets, which should have cost $10 each.
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While officers may volunteer to sell tickets, no one is pressured to do so, show organizer and Darby Township officer Jimmy Binns, told the newspaper. The commissioner has taken the officer off the streets but is waiting for Internal Affairs to complete its investigation before deciding to fire him.
