Former Granite City police officer charged with obstruction of justice, misconduct

Former Granite City Police Lt. Thomas Paul was charged on Monday with three counts of obstruction of justice and one count of official misconduct.

The charges were filed in Madison County by Assistant State’s Attorney Dan Lewis of St. Clair County, the special prosecutor in the case.

“With the intention of preventing the apprehension of Lemonica Henderson, (Paul) knowingly furnished false information to Sgt. Jeff Grote, Chief Rich Miller and Officer Lori Gibbons,” of the Granite City Police Department, according to the charging document.

Lori Gibbons is the wife of Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons, who asked for a special prosecutor in this case.

Paul could not be reached for comment. Lewis said he could not comment.

The official misconduct charge is based on an allegedly false “employee report of injury form,” that must be filed when on-duty officers are injured.

Paul’s bail was set at $50,000, of which he must post $5,000 in cash.

Last week, the Belleville News-Democrat reported there was a woman in the car at the time Paul’s squad car with weapons inside was stolen. However, police would not talk about what role Henderson played in the incident.

Granite City police reported in December that Paul suffered minor injuries after he was carjacked. Paul told police that someone entered his unmarked squad car, struck him and then drove away after Paul left the car to investigate a motorist slumped behind the wheel.

Paul was headed west on North Street approaching Illinois 3 and stopped behind a minivan. Paul told police he got out to check on the driver and found him slumped over the wheel. As Paul tried to wake the driver, he heard his car backing up from its position, police said.

“The facts were not truthful,” Granite City Police Chief Rich Miller said last week, so the investigation was turned over the Madison County Sheriff’s Department.

The police car, a silver 2014 Ford Fusion, was found on the parking lot of the Hillcrest Apartments near Jennings, Mo.

Paul retired shortly after the theft of his car. He had been with the Police Department since 1988.

St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly declined to comment, citing the ongoing criminal investigation.

This story was originally published February 8, 2016 at 3:31 PM with the headline "Former Granite City police officer charged with obstruction of justice, misconduct."