news-record.com

GREENSBORO — A Greensboro police officer who won his job back after an assault conviction and successful appeal has been suspended without pay for a second time.

A.J. Blake was notified of his suspension and recommendation for firing July 13, he confirmed Tuesday.

Blake declined to comment further on the matter.

He initially was suspended in January 2009 after allegations that he assaulted his fiancee and the girlfriend of another officer following a night of heavy drinking with other officers at the Greensboro Police Club.

Blake was arrested and charged with two counts of assault on a female and then convicted by a judge in Guilford County District Court in March 2009. He appealed that ruling and was found not guilty by a Superior Court jury in July of that year.

Before his Superior Court trial was set to begin, Blake appeared before a police administrative board, which recommended his firing. Police Chief Tim Bellamy upheld the board’s finding.

Blake won back his job after an appeal in September 2009 to interim City Manager Bob Morgan. Blake was demoted and didn’t return to the gang squad.

Blake has criticized the gang unit, saying superiors used derogatory racial slurs against him — he is of Honduran descent — and the squad unfairly targeted and harassed Latino gangs. Police have denied these allegations.

Contact Dioni L. Wise at 373-7090 or dioni.wise@news-record.com