Oversight Chair Accused of Selling Witness Data in $500 Deal

One call on a prison phone line reportedly set the price at $500. That figure, according to investigators, represented the cost for details about a witness in an attempted murder case. The witness information was allegedly pulled from confidential city systems by Hassan Bennett, the chair of the Citizens Police Oversight Commission.

The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office announced the arrests of Bennett and Thomas Scott on Monday. Both men face four felony counts, including witness intimidation. Bennett is currently held on $1 million bail. Scott is being held on $3 million bail.

Investigators stated that Scott began the search for the witness in August. He used social media to locate the individual. Scott and Bennett, who followed one another on social platforms, allegedly coordinated their efforts. The pair also made three-way recorded calls with the primary suspect in the underlying criminal case.

Assistant District Attorney William Fritze questioned the suitability of Bennett's role during the investigation. Fritze argued that individuals tasked with holding others accountable should meet a higher standard. He described the situation as disgraceful because Bennett was sitting on the policy advisory council while allegedly accessing the data.

Assistant District Attorney Joseph Lanuti provided specifics on the intimidation tactics. Lanuti noted that Scott posted statements on social media seeking the witness's location. Those posts included threats that the witness should recant or would be taken out in broad daylight. Lanuti confirmed that Bennett used city case management systems to retrieve the sensitive information.

Bennett has a legal history that includes a murder conviction. He served 13 years in prison before his release. He represented himself in that trial and was acquitted in 2019. Following his release, Bennett became an advocate for police reform. He eventually secured the chair position with the oversight commission. He is now on leave from that post as the legal process moves forward.

The oversight commission acknowledged the seriousness of the charges. The group stated it will wait for the legal process to unfold before offering further comment. Fritze told witnesses that the office will use all available power to ensure they can testify safely in court.