Local News in Brief : Officer Charged in Beating
A Los Angeles police officer was charged Wednesday with beating a prisoner, who actually was a fellow officer working undercover.
Officer Michael Sillers was charged by the district attorney’s office with one count each of assault under color of authority and battery, both misdemeanors.
Sillers is scheduled to surrender for arraignment in Municipal Court June 14. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to one year in County Jail and fined $10,000.
The Feb. 3 incident occurred as the undercover officer, pretending to have been arrested for a narcotics offense, was handcuffed to a bench at the Police Department’s southeast station.
As Sillers approached, the undercover officer mimicked what he was saying, Deputy Dist. Atty. Ed Feldman said. Sillers allegedly responded by punching him in the face and kicking him in the legs.
The undercover officer, who was investigating a tip that jail personnel were stealing prisoners’ property, suffered no serious injuries.
Sillers has been relieved of duty without pay pending a police board of rights hearing.
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