Cop ignores subpoenas, ex-cop gets off
Trial stemmed from alleged domestic assault between the two officers.
A CITY COP repeatedly ignored subpoenas to testify against her husband, a former police officer who was charged with assaulting her last year, and the woman's absence resulted in the man's acquittal yesterday, according to the District Attorney's Office and courtroom statements.
James Timms, a 14-year veteran of the department who was stationed at the 35th District at Broad Street near Champlost, had been accused of punching his wife and slamming her head on the floor of their Germantown home on Jan. 2, 2013.
Authorities further alleged that Timms, 42, then took his wife's service weapon and fired it at the ceiling of the couple's home.
He was charged with aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and related offenses and was suspended by Commissioner Charles Ramsey with the intent to dismiss.
A police spokeswoman confirmed yesterday that Timms had been fired and that his wife still works for the department.
Timms opted for a bench trial before Judge Gwendolyn Bright. The trial began Tuesday and concluded yesterday after a two-day break.
Qawi Abdul Rahman, Timms' attorney, argued that Timms' wife had facial injuries from a fall.
Tasha Jamerson, spokeswoman for the District Attorney's Office, said that Timms' wife "repeatedly ignored" subpoenas to appear in court and was "uncooperative" from the beginning of the case.
Lt. John Stanford, a police spokesman, did not return requests for comment about what, if any, sanctions the officer could face for ignoring subpoenas.
Jamerson said Timms' 18-year-old daughter, who testified as a witness at his preliminary hearing, also ignored subpoenas to appear in court.
When Bright rendered her not-guilty verdict, she said it was unfortunate that the prosecution's witnesses had failed to appear. Timms put his head in his hands and breathed a sigh of relief, while his supporters in the gallery praised God.
Timms' was one of several ex-cops included in a September Daily News package about police officers and domestic violence.
The stories reported that 164 Philly cops have had domestic-abuse complaints against them in the last five years but only 11 of them have been fired and criminally charged. Of those 11, only three have been convicted.