Thomas Deasfernandes, a patrol officer and 20 year veteran of the Detroit Police Department, has been suspended without pay after being charged with witness tampering and lying to a peace officer.

Deasfernandes, 46, is accused of breaking the law to help his teenage son who had been charged in a home invasion case in Ypsilanti.

The veteran officer allegedly tried to bribe a witness in the case to keep them from testifying. He's also accused of lying to a detective.

Click on the video to hear from the officer's defense attorney.