James Pitts, 51, is charged with three counts of obstructing administration of law and two counts of perjury. Pitts is accused of assaulting Obina Onyiah during an interrogation and then lying about the alleged assault. Ony
Highlights
- James Pitts, 51, is charged with three counts of obstructing administration of law and two counts of perjury.
- He is accused of beating Obina Onyiah during an interrogation and then lying about the alleged assault in 2010.
- Oniyiah was found guilty of murder after the violent interrogation and spent 11 years behind bars.
- He was exonerated in 2021 after detectives re-examined video footage and sourced secondary interviews with crime scene witnesses.
- Pitts had been suspended from the Philadelphia Police Department for 30 days and Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw indicated he will be terminated after serving the suspension.
- He has a preliminary hearing on Friday, according to court documents.