Officer Accused of Paying Hooker with Wife's Clothes, Shoes

From myfoxaustin.com:

AUSTIN -- An Austin Police Officer is accused of hiring a prostitute and paying her with his wife's clothing and shoes, according to a search warrant.

The search warrant shows 45-year-old Scott Lando used his wife's new pair of boots, jeans and shirt to pay the prostitute for her services. The warrant also shows Lando also took the prostitute on shopping trips to Wal-Mart and Payless ShoeSource, and to dinner at Threadgill's on North Lamar on one occasion.

APD first heard about Lando's possible involvement with prostitution in June of 2006 during the arrest of a different prostitute, according to the warrant. While that prostitute was making her sworn statement to police about her own case, she mentioned to investigators that Officer Lando had been engaging in "tricks" with another hooker. Officers were able to find that prostitute in the Burnet County jail and questioned her about Officer Lando.

The warrant shows the prostitute confirmed from June to September of 2006, she had engaged in sexual acts with Lando for money or clothing. The prostitute also told police her first sexual encounter with Lando happened in an Austin Police patrol car in North Austin.

The prostitute told investigators on her last encounter with Lando in August of 2006, Lando took her to his home in Cedar Park, the warrant says. The prostitute told investigators Lando asked her to take a bath before having sex with her. Instead of money, Lando allowed the prostitute to take some clothes from his wife's closet after telling the woman that his wife would never miss them. The warrant shows that the prostitute took a new pair of black Harley Davidson leather boots still in their box, studded and jeweled jeans, and a pink and yellow top.

Investigators confirmed the prostitute's story after issuing the search warrant for Lando's Cedar Park home and tattoos. Investigators concluded that the prostitute's description of the home and tattoos were accurate, and could only be described by someone who had seen them. During a visit to the home last month, Lando's wife also confirmed she was missing a new pair of Harley Davidson boots and jeans, had assumed that a neighborhood kid had taken them.

Lando has not been charged with a crime, he is still under He has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.

According to archived versions of former APD Cheif Stan Knee's newsletter 'The Shield,' Lando received the Distinguished Service Cross for Valor in 2004. Lando was honored after being shot at by a suspect. Lando fired a shot back at the suspect then continued the pursuit on foot.