[FL] Officer Lemanowicz stopped before he carried through

...Lemanowicz was arrested in February 2008 after breaking into his former girlfriend's Wellington home despite a court order forbidding him from going near her or her house. A gun with his DNA on it, a knife and gloves were found separately the scene...

News from February and March '09:

WEST PALM BEACH POLICE OFFICER ARRESTED FOR BURGLARY IN WELLINGTON
Town-Crier
29.FEB.08
A West Palm Beach Police officer was arrested after committing an armed burglary in Wellington’s Edge on Monday. According to a PBSO report, a deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington responded to a burglary in progress call at 6:42 p.m. When he arrived, the deputy witnessed 39-year-old Craig Lemanowicz of North Palm Beach walk from the side of the house. According to the report, Lemanowicz told the deputy, “I’m a West Palm cop” and admitted to burglarizing the house, adding “now my career is over.” Lemanowicz said he parked his truck near the Mall at Wellington Green and rode a bicycle to the house. A witness told the deputy that he was inside the house taking a shower when he heard a window break, according to the report. The witness said he then entered the bedroom, where Lemanowicz approached him with a screwdriver. According to the report, the witness told Lemanowicz he had a knife, and twice told Lemanowicz to leave the house before walking him to the front door. According to the report, a computer check of Lemanowicz’s record revealed a temporary injunction for protection against dating violence that was served Feb. 12. Prior to being transported to the Palm Beach County Jail, Lemanowicz told deputies he had no weapons on his person. Once at the jail, however, Lemanowicz was strip-searched and a three-inch lock-blade knife was found in his front waistband, according to the report. A search of the area outside the house turned up a screwdriver, blue rubber gloves and a loaded 9mm handgun. In addition to armed burglary, Lemanowicz was charged with possession of burglary tools with intent to use, the introduction of contraband into a detention facility and violating an injunction. As of Thursday afternoon, Lemanowicz remained in the county jail. [LINK]

JURORS FIND VETERAN WEST PALM BEACH POLICE OFFICER GUILTY OF BURGLARY
Palm Beach Post
By Susan Spencer-Wendel
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
A jury today found a veteran West Palm Beach police officer guilty of the felonies attempted burglary and possession of burglary tools. Jurors also found 41-year-old Craig Lemanowicz guilty of two misdemeanor counts of violation of an injunction against repeat or dating violence. He faces up to a maximum of 12 years in prison when sentenced at a later date. Still it was a win for Lemanowicz who faced possible life in prison if convicted as charged with burglary while armed with a firearm. Lemanowicz was arrested in February 2008 after breaking into his former girlfriend's Wellington home despite a court order forbidding him from going near her or her house. A gun with his DNA on it, a knife and gloves were found separately the scene... Lemanowicz faces a second trial on the charge of introducing contraband into a penal institution for a knife allegedly found on him at the jail following his arrest. Circuit Judge Charles Burton set that for April 1. Prosecutor Dan Galo laid out the facts in closing statements as this: despite a court order forbidding Lemanowicz from having any contact with his former girlfriend or her home, he parked his truck near it, rode his bike to her backyard and broke in through a window in February 2008. In his possession were a screwdriver, gloves and gun... At the time of his arrest, Lemanowicz had spent 16 years as a beat cop, some of that patrolling downtown on a Segway. [ FULL ARTICLE HERE]