Attorney for exonerated Laguna policeman says alleged elder abuse victim was officer’s father

An attorney for a Laguna Beach police officer exonerated of allegations of elder abuse said Wednesday that an alleged victim was the officer’s father, who he said died after becoming separated from the care of family members who were arrested in the case.

Officer Rock Wagner, 58, was arrested by Fullerton police near his Lake Forest home Nov. 28 on suspicion of elder abuse and fraud. Fullerton police led the case because it reportedly involved a financial institution based there.

At the time, authorities did not identify any alleged victims or other details of the investigation.

Wagner’s attorney, Michael Fell, said during a news conference Wednesday at his Irvine office that an alleged victim was Wagner’s father, Roland.

At the time of his son’s arrest, Roland Wagner was in good health and living in Huntington Beach with his daughter Wendy Wagner and her boyfriend, Norman McBride, Fell said.

Wendy Wagner and McBride also were arrested on suspicion of elder abuse and fraud.

After the arrests, Roland Wagner left their care and was unable to contact his family, Fell said. He died Feb. 24. According to an online obituary notice, he was 84 and had worked as a Tupperware distributor.

“We are deeply saddened by this entire chain of egregious events that eventually concluded in our father’s unnecessary death,” the Wagners and McBride said in a joint statement read by Fell. “We are here today to restore our characters and reputations and to celebrate our innocence.”

The Orange County district attorney’s office declined to file charges in the case. Rock Wagner, a nine-year officer, also was cleared by an internal Laguna Beach Police Department investigation and has since returned to patrol.

Several of Wagner’s police colleagues stood by him during Fell’s news conference to show their support. Wagner did not speak.

bradley.zint@latimes.com

Twitter: @BradleyZint