Man Held in Attack on Officer Selling Tickets
A Van Nuys man was in jail Sunday for allegedly attacking a uniformed Los Angeles police officer he believed was a con man, police said.
Jim Felknor, 45, was arrested Friday in the attack on Officer William Brooks, 48, who was soliciting advertisers in connection with an upcoming police golf tournament, Los Angeles Police Sgt. Ted Hanson said.
Brooks, a 24-year veteran, suffered cuts and bruises in the scuffle, which broke out at 11 a.m. in Felknor’s machine shop at 7400 Valjean Ave., Hanson said.
Fearing that Brooks was trying to trick him, Felknor reportedly asked Brooks for his driver’s license. Brooks declined to produce the license and said that if Felknor was not interested in advertising he would leave, according to Hanson.
As he turned to go, Felknor allegedly attacked him. Hanson said Brooks fended off the punches but did not hit Felknor. The two scuffled for several minutes until the arrival of police, who had been summoned by witnesses and Felknor’s wife, Hanson said.
Hanson said Felknor’s wife told police that her husband had seen a television program that warned of con men dressing like police officers.
“People get confused,” Hanson said. “They don’t understand what our uniform looks like.”
Felknor was being held in lieu of $22,200 bail at the Van Nuys Jail.
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