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Aug 13, 2008 5:55 pm US/Central
DPD Releases 911 Tapes From Failed Robbery Plot
DPD Officer Now Accused Of Orchestrating Crime
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―
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Dallas police officer Alph Coleman has been charged with aggravated robbery, after being accused of orchestrating a warehouse club robbery.
KTVT / KTXA
On Wednesday Dallas police released the 911 calls from what was first thought to be a foiled robbery attempt at a business.
Listening to the tapes one can envision scared employees being held up in a North Texas store. Authorities now accuse the security guard -- an off-duty police officer meant to protect those employees -- of orchestrating the crime.
During one call the person said, "I can hear him at the front door. I'm trying not to let him in. Please come." In another call the 911 operator asks, "What about your off-duty police officer?" The person responds, "He was on foot. He was on pursuit trying to chase him."
Police officers want to portray an image of trust, now as more information comes out about an alleged plot by one of their own; some local officers are worried about their image.
Last June a full search effort, including police helicopters, was mounted to respond to a call that an off-duty Dallas police officer was being held at gunpoint at Sam's Club on Wheatland Road.
The police officer in question was Alph Coleman. Now, after four years of public service, Coleman finds himself on the other side of the law. He's accused of orchestrating the alleged robbery.
During the initial investigation of the crime, Coleman allegedly claimed that an armed suspect shot at him. But, according to police, the only shell casings found at the scene were from Coleman's gun.
"It's embarrassing for me as an officer to know that we have a person on the police force… to know we have someone who would commit an aggravated robbery or become part of it," said Glenn White with the Dallas Police Association.
Along with frightened Sam's employees, two police officers were injured during the incident. They crashed their patrol car while responding to the scene.
Police say they used a tremendous amount of resources on the robbery, including the estimated $30,000 for the wrecked police car and the expense of staff and investigators.
Officer Coleman was arrested Tuesday and charged with aggravated robbery. He has since posted the $50,000 bond, but has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of his criminal case.
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