PHILADELPHIA (June 3, 2026) — Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and the DAO’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) announced on Wednesday the perjury conviction of former Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Levitt in connection to a van stop that occurred in Northwest Philadelphia in April 2021.
Defendant Daniel Levitt (DOB 10/06/1973) has been charged and convicted with Perjury (F3).
On April 28, 2021, Defendant Daniel Levitt, a 39th District Philadelphia Police officer, was working with two other officers when they pulled over a van on the 2900 block of North Sydenham Street for disregarding a stop sign and having a license plate that was not registered to the vehicle. Body worn camera shows Levitt speaking to the driver, Angel Da Baez-Carrucini, as the other two officers speak to the front passenger Tyshon Butts. Without the knowledge of Levitt, one of his partners retrieved Butts’ backpack from the rear of the van and handed it to him so he could provide identification. From there, Butts’ unzipped his bag, pulled out his wallet, and provided an access card. After putting the wallet back into his backpack, Butts’ zipped the backpack completely shut and put it into the passenger compartment behind the driver’s seat.
Defendant Levitt instructed the other arriving officers to take Butts’ out of the van. Levitt then entered through the driver’s side, unzipped the backpack and discovered a firearm with an extended magazine. Levitt falsely told the other officers that he saw the extended magazine sticking out of the backpack. Butts was arrested and charged with VUFA 6106 and other related charges on April 28, 2021. Levitt was arrested in March 2022 on perjury charges stemming from false testimony he gave at an August 5, 2021 preliminary hearing. After the investigation by the PPD’s Internal Affairs Division into Levitt’s actions, the case was directed to the District Attorney’s Office.
On Tuesday, June 2, 2026, a Philadelphia jury convicted Defendant Levitt with perjury for falsely testifying under oath after two days of trial. The sentencing will take place in August 2026.
“The conduct of former Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Levitt is egregious and chips away at the collective trust in all law enforcement officials,” District Attorney Larry Krasner. “It is thanks to the due diligence of the prosecutors on this case, as well as the careful deliberation of a Philadelphia jury, that Defendant Levitt will be held accountable for his actions.”
CONTACT:
Marisa Palmer, [email protected]