Jury deliberates cop's fate

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A federal jury began deliberating Thursday morning in the trial against a former Albuquerque Police Department officer who faces charges of obstruction of justice and lying to the FBI for a friend. Jurors began deliberating just before 11 a.m. on Thursday after closing arguments wrapped up.

Brad Ahrensfield, who was a 14-year APD veteran at the time, is accused of tipping off his friend, Shawn Bryan, of an investigation into him and his employees.

Last fall, federal and APD investigators believed Bryan was behind a "crime enterprise" that was based at his business, the Car Shop, that involved drug and stolen property deals. Police also believed Bryan had staged his own home burglary last September to get rid of stolen property he had purchased.

Det. Ron Olivas, who took the stand, said he was doing surveillance of the Car Shop and knew that Ahrensfield's teenage son was working for Bryan at the time. Even though those involved in the investigation were told not to tell Ahrensfield about the investigation and that his son would be protected, Olivas told jurors that he told Ahrensfield anyway.

Ahrensfield, who also took the stand in his own defense, testified that in order to protect his son he told Bryan he was only going to allow his son to work for him one day out of the week so he could concentrate on sports and school.

But Ahrensfield said that he was also concerned that Bryan's employees were ruining his friend's reputation and business so Ahrensfield claims that's he told Bryan that he needed to watch his employees because they were being accused of dealing drugs.

Ahresnfield also said he told Bryan that investigators were looking into whether he'd staged his own burglary, but that he did not go into details of the investigation because he Olivas didn't give him any details.

Ahrensfield said when the FBI questioned him, he didn't tell them about that conversation, because they never specifically asked him about it. He also said he didn't intend to commit a crime or violate any laws when he warned his friend that his employees may be dealing drugs at his business.

The investigation was compromised because of the leak. Olivas was relocated to the records department soon after the leak and was suspended without pay for three weeks. Ahrensfield quit the force in March.

Bryan, for his testimony, was granted immunity. Ahrensfield's attorney feels confident the jury will find him not guilty because prosecutors relied only on memory of what Bryan said during questioning.

Jason Bowles urged jurors to look at the evidence, which was testimony that was based solely on a few notes and a recollection of events nearly a year ago.

"The FBI didn't tape this, they didn't bring in the witnesses, everybody was all over the place on the statements," said Bowles. "I mean, literally, at this point you have no idea what was said or what wasn't said. The proof is the tape and they should've brought it; they didn't."