Jury Orders Police to Pay Damages

A federal jury Wednesday ordered the Glendale Police Department to pay a Canoga Park man $60,000 in damages for violating his civil rights by reportedly assaulting him during an arrest.

The six-person jury deliberated three hours before reaching the decision in the case, which was tried before U.S. District Judge Robert M. Takasugi.

In a lawsuit filed against the city of Glendale in 1986, Paul Vallez, 22, claimed that five officers seized him illegally, subjected him to excessive force and denied him medical care for a broken toe.

In its verdict, the jury awarded Vallez the money without specifying which of those charges it determined were valid.

No Decision

Glendale City Attorney Frank R. Manzano said he has not decided whether the city will appeal the decision.

Vallez was arrested by Glendale police about 11 p.m. Nov. 13, 1986, on suspicion of public drunkenness, said Vallez’ attorney, Stephen Yagman.

Yagman said he told jurors during the weeklong trial that officers beat Vallez and jailed him until 6:30 a.m. the next day. Yagman said the officers broke Vallez’ toe in the assault.

But Glendale Assistant City Atty. Dennis H. Schuck, who defended the city, denied that officers beat Vallez and said the man broke his own toe by kicking the jail wall in anger.

The five officers named in the case are Sgt. Louis Guay and officers Brian Melnick, Ronald Masucci, Keith Soboleski and Darel McEntarffer.