Suspended police chief takes the stand

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - A suspended North Providence police chief accused of stealing $714 from a stripper's purse took the stand in his own defense Monday.

John Whiting, 58, of North Attleboro, faces charges of larceny over $500 and solicitation to receive stolen goods.

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Last week, Pawtucket police officer John Brown testified that Whiting confessed to stealing the money.

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Whiting denies those claims and says he told Officer Brown to take the money as evidence.

"I said it was like 709, 710, dollars.. I said just take it and log it as evidence," Whiting told the court Monday.

Brown said Whiting confessed to stealing the money, then gave it to him and told him to spend it in Las Vegas and say nothing more about it.

Whiting says he was joking and said it sarcastically.

"I said I don't give a (expletive) if you go to Vegas take it and put it in evidence."

Whiting has pleaded not guilty.