BALTIMORE _ A convicted Baltimore police detective testified Monday in the Gun Trace Task Force trial that he used to steal money with Detective Sean Suiter, the city homicide detective whose fatal shooting in November _ one day before he was to testify before a federal grand jury in the case _ remains unsolved.
The claim came on cross-examination of Detective Momodu Gondo, who has admitted to stealing from people dating back to 2008. Defense attorney Christopher Nieto asked Gondo if he had told the FBI that he stole money when he worked with Suiter and a squad of several other people.
"You'd take money, split it among yourselves?" Nieto asked. Gondo agreed.
Gondo is one of six gun task force officers to plead guilty in the case, and one of four who are testifying for the government in the federal racketeering trial of Detectives Daniel Hersl and Marcus Taylor.
Suiter was investigating a triple homicide in November when he was shot in the head with his own gun in a vacant lot, police have said. His death was ruled a homicide, but remains unsolved despite a $215,000 reward.
Suiter was shot one day before he was to testify before a federal grand jury that was continuing to investigate claims involving the Gun Trace Task Force. Police have said that they do not believe there is a connection between Suiter's killing and his scheduled testimony.
Sgt. Wayne Jenkins, the supervisor of the gun unit, was later indicted on a superseding indictment charging that he and Suiter had been involved in a 2010 incident in which drugs were planted on a man who fled and got into a serious crash. The indictment said Suiter was oblivious that the drugs had been planted, but had been the one who found them.
Umar Burley, who was sent to federal prison based on the case, said after his conviction was overturned in December that he fled because he believed he was being robbed by masked men.
Colleagues have said Suiter was an honest and beloved cop.
