A former Philadelphia police officer acquitted in June of charges that he had sex with a 13-year-old South Philly girl filed a federal lawsuit last Wednesday to get his job back.
Kraig Graham, 22, had worked 18 months as a 12th District officer in Southwest Philly when he was arrested last December on a tip regarding the alleged tryst.
According to police, Graham told a 13-year-old girl that he was 17 when the two allegedly engaged in sex in July and August of 2001.
The former officer maintained from the start that the girl’s accusation was false.
Graham, of the 1500 block of South Chadwick Street, was arrested and charged with statutory rape and corrupting the morals of a minor, according to court records. A Philadelphia jury later acquitted the former officer of the charges leveled against him.
Claiming his civil rights were violated because he was fired while the investigation was in progress, Graham filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia last week, said authorities.
Woman dies in fire
A fire that tore through the second floor of a two-story brick dwelling on Saturday claimed the life of a 50-year-old woman and critically injured an elderly man, said authorities.
Around 8:50 a.m., police and firefighters responded to a report of people trapped inside a burning building at 2033 S. Garnet St., said Detective Jim Feldmayer of South Detective Division.
Neighbors rescued a 71-year-old man, who was then taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was treated for second- and third-degree burns to his back, legs and right shoulder area, said Executive Fire Chief William Brightcliffe.
Firefighters found Michele Oserin inside a bedroom, said the detective. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The blaze started in a padded foam office chair in a second-floor rear room and extended into the hallway, causing heavy smoke and heat damage to the entire floor, Brightcliffe said.
Firefighters had the blaze contained by 9:08 a.m.
Fire marshals determined the cause of the fire to be smoking, said Brightcliffe.
The 15-foot-wide-by-35-foot-deep dwelling contained two smoke detectors, but one had no battery and the other wasn’t working, added the chief.
Man arrested in drive-by
An 18-year-old man missed his targets when he allegedly fired three shots into a car heading north on Fifth Street from Dudley last Thursday, said police.
A 20-year-old woman and her 24-year-old husband were inside their 1993 Mercury Sable around 8:45 a.m. when they spotted a man with whom they had a previous dispute, according to Sgt. Steve Biello of South Detectives. The victims were fired at, but escaped injury, the sergeant said.
On Tuesday, police arrested and charged Walter Dobson, of the 400 block of Emily Street, in the shooting, said Biello.
Mysterious shooting
A 27-year-old man told police that while walking on the 2400 block of Morris Street early Monday, he heard gunshots from out of nowhere, then felt pain in his left foot.
When he looked down, the man realized he had been shot, said Detective Jim Feldmayer of South Detectives.
The victim was taken to HUP after the 2 a.m. incident. He was treated and released, said Feldmayer.
To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.
Two banks robbed
Police are still searching for the culprit or culprits who pulled off two bank heists with a similar style over a two-day period.
The bandit made out far better in the first robbery than in the second.
A robber wearing a hooded sweatshirt entered the Sun Oil Federal Credit Union at 2800 W. Passyunk Ave. last Thursday around 11:30 a.m. and handed the teller a demand note, said Detective Jim Feldmayer of South Detectives. The bandit escaped with $4,200, added the detective.
Two days later around 2:40 p.m., a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt and rubber gloves entered Commerce Bank at 2101 S. Broad St. After receiving a demand note, the teller handed over $200 and a dye pack, which did not activate, said Feldmayer.
Detectives are trying to determine whether the robberies are connected.
To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.
