September 16, 1999
Web posted at: 10:08 PM EDT (0208 GMT)

From CNN's Charles Feldman

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- The U.S. Attorney's office has launched an investigation into allegations of widespread corruption in the Los Angeles Police Department that has already resulted in the suspension of 11 officers.

Federal authorities announced their investigation Thursday after a whistleblowing officer recently said police planted a gun on a man convicted of assaulting police officers -- an admission that resulted in the District Attorney's office asking for his release.

Javier Francisco Ovando, 22, was set free Thursday after serving nearly three years for a crime he apparently did not commit. Ovando was shot by police and paralyzed in October 1996, and later found guilty on charges of assaulting police officers. He was sentenced to more than 23 years in prison.

A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office said as far as they can tell it is the first time in the history of the DA's office that prosecutors have asked for the release of a prisoner -- in effect serving as defense attorneys.

The LAPD has suspended 11 police officers as part of this ongoing corruption investigation that also may involve some drug charges. The developments came after the whistleblowing officer in the Ovando case made allegations against these other officers as part of a plea agreement.

The whistleblower, Officer Rafael Antonio Perez, was arrested last year and charged with stealing drugs from a police lockup. His trial ended in a hung jury, but the district attorney re-filed the case, adding additional charges. Last week, Perez entered into a plea agreement on those charges which has been sealed by the court.