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Ex-Policeman Accused Of Lying About Torture

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By JOSH POLTILOVE and KRISTA KLAUS

jpoltilove@tampatrib.com kklaus@wfla.com

Published: October 22, 2008

TAMPA - A former Chicago police commander was arrested at his Apollo Beach home Tuesday on federal charges relating to a torture case.

Jon Burge lied about whether he and officers he supervised tortured people in custody, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

FBI agents from Tampa and Chicago arrested Burge, 60, and charged him with two counts of obstruction of justice and one count of perjury.

Burge lied and hampered court proceedings in November 2003 when he gave false written answers to questions in a civil lawsuit alleging that he and others tortured and otherwise abused people in custody, a Justice Department news release said.

Burge appeared in Tampa federal court Tuesday and is to be arraigned Monday morning in Chicago. He was released from jail on $250,000 bail.

The judge rejected prosecutors' request for Burge to wear an electronic monitoring device.

If convicted, Burge faces up to 20 years in prison on each obstruction of justice charge and up to five years for perjury.

HILLSBOROUGH

Man Accused Of Exposing Himself

Three people eating breakfast on an outdoor patio at Nebraska Avenue's Three Coins Diner called for police Monday morning after a homeless man exposed himself and began to masturbate while they dined, police said.

Eric Vickers, 36, was being held Tuesday at Orient Road Jail, with bail set at $750. He was charged with misdemeanor exposure of sexual organs and possessing an open container, an ordinance violation.

Man Charged With Beating Boy

A 19-year-old man has been charged with felony child abuse after he bound a 5-year-old boy Sunday and beat him with a belt, police said.

Sherman Lamont Purnell was arrested about noon Monday and was being held Tuesday at Orient Road Jail. Bail had not been set.

Purnell lives with his girlfriend in the 1700 block of Mulberry Drive, authorities say. The arrest came after the child's school alerted authorities to the child's injuries, police said.

PINELLAS

Nursing Home Assault Charged

CLEARWATER - A 66-year-old male nursing home resident was arrested Monday, accused of sexually assaulting a mentally and physically incapacitated woman at the Highland Pines Rehabilitation & Nursing Center.

James Szabo was charged with sexual battery. He was being held Tuesday at Pinellas County Jail, with bail set at $50,000. Szabo is accused of standing at the woman's bedside and inappropriately touching her.

A staff report

Information from The Associated Press and NBC 5 TV in Chicago was used in this report.

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