Ex-police officer acquitted of perjury

Defense lawyer Brian J. McMonagle called Lupo “a good cop” who had followed his father onto the force and was in his sixth year when he and partner Matthew Crosson stopped Farsi.

“His great sin is that he forgets that he opened the trunk for 23 seconds,” McMonagle told the jury.

Two prosecution witnesses praised Lupo’s work as a police officer: Crosson and Sgt. Lawrence McKinney.

McKinney testified that he ordered Lupo to open the trunk because he feared Farsi’s two passengers might have stashed weapons in the trunk using a rear-seat pass-through.

Crosson testified that the Buick reeked of marijuana. Ultimately, the car was confiscated and searched by police after a warrant was secured. Two pounds of marijuana was found in the trunk.