A grand jury indicted one of New York’s Finest for perjury Wednesday following allegations that he fabricated assault charges against a burglary suspect in Sunset Park earlier this year.
Officer Michael Bergman, 34, testified in court that the suspect attempted to run him and his partner down with a car on 65th Street near Second Avenue on Feb. 1, forcing the patrolman to dive to avoid being crushed, according to District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.
Bergman, a six-year veteran of the Police Department, further claimed that he suffered lacerations to his arm and elbow from the fall, investigators said.
The cops’ “assailant” was arrested two days later and slapped with multiple felony charges, including attempted-assault on a police officer, according to Gonzalez.
The case turned against Bergman on May 28, when investigators obtained surveillance footage that depicted a far-less dramatic scene, according to the district attorney.
According to prosecutors, the security feed shows the two police officers exiting an unmarked patrol vehicle, while the suspect simply drives off — without endangering Bergman, who remained on both feet throughout the incident.
The District Attorney blasted Bergman for authoring false testimony, saying his actions not only threatened a man’s freedom, but undermined the public’s trust in law enforcement.
“We allege that this police officer’s actions led to an individual being falsely accused of crimes that he did not commit,” said Eric Gonzalez. “All of us who work in law enforcement rely on the truthfulness and integrity of our police officers — it is integral to our commitment to safety and equal justice. We will now seek to hold this officer accountable.”
Bergman was arraigned on June 19 before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on one count of first-degree perjury, one count of second-degree perjury, one count of making a false statement and one count of official misconduct.
The officer was released without bail and ordered to return to court on August 7.
