By Allison Steele
The Philadelphia Inquirer
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — The three Philadelphia police officers charged with stealing heroin and plotting to sell it will be confined to house arrest and monitored electronically while they await trial, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.
Robert Snyder, 29; James Venziale, 31; and Mark Williams, 26, will be released on bail in coming days and will live at their homes or the homes of family members.
U.S. District Judge Harvey Bartle III said that they could leave only to attend meetings with their lawyers, doctor’s appointments, or religious services, and that they must have prior approval from the court.
A magistrate judge indicated last week that the men, who were suspended from the force with intent to dismiss, could leave their homes for job interviews. Bartle removed that provision Tuesday, stating that by confining the officers to their homes, “the court can be assured that [they] will not be able to mingle with the community.”
Federal prosecutor Kathy Stark had asked that the men remain jailed pending trial, arguing that they faced significant prison time and might be tempted to run. In his decision, Bartle noted that the officers have no criminal histories and have strong ties to the area. Each of the officers has children, and each of their families has put up a home as collateral for bail.
The officers have surrendered their passports as well as their service weapons and uniforms.
Snyder will live at his mother-in-law’s home in Upper Holmesburg with his wife and their two young children.
Snyder’s wife, Christal, also was charged in the heroin theft. She allegedly passed messages between the officers and Angel Ortiz, a reputed drug dealer who is said to have helped the officers plan the robbery. Ortiz has three children with Christal Snyder’s sister, and those children also are living with Snyder’s mother-in-law.
Venziale will live at his home in the Northeast with his wife and their two children, and Williams will live in his parents’ home in North Philadelphia.
Williams’ father said Tuesday that he and Williams’ other relatives were angry with the Police Department and the officers’ union, saying they had rushed to judgment on the three.
“We thought that was what the union was there for, to stand by them even if the worst happened,” said Williams’ father, who said he did not want to give his name.
Regardless, he said, he and his wife were looking forward to having their son return home.
“If he broke the law, I in no way condone that,” he said. “But we just hope and pray for the best outcome.”
The officers were arrested on federal charges of stealing 300 grams of heroin from a drug supplier, with help from alleged drug dealers.
One of the men who coordinated the robbery was actually a federal undercover agent posing as a drug dealer.
Many of the meetings the officers held to discuss the robbery were recorded, prosecutors revealed this week in their bid to keep the officers in jail.
All three have admitted their roles in the robbery, according to court documents.
Federal prosecutors have said they will file new charges against the officers in coming weeks, some likely related to another robbery two of the officers allegedly were planning.
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