2 Plead Not Guilty

Two top Lawndale city officials pleaded not guilty Thursday to more than a dozen misdemeanor charges involving their roles in the demolition of three city-owned buildings containing asbestos.

Lawndale City Manager James Arnold and Public Works Director James Sanders each were charged with 17 counts of illegally disposing hazardous waste and failing to comply with state and federal regulations regarding the handling of asbestos in connection with the demolition in June, 1989.

The abandoned houses, which had been used by the city for storage, had prompted complaints from neighbors who said the buildings were an eyesore and attracted vermin. When a contractor hired by the city to demolish the buildings asked to postpone the work, Sanders drove a bulldozer himself to do the job.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Anthony Patchett said Sanders and Arnold were warned there was asbestos in the buildings but that they failed to take precautions to protect neighbors’ homes from being coated with asbestos-laden dust. Asbestos is known to cause cancer and other lung ailments.

A pretrial hearing in South Bay Municipal Court was scheduled for Aug. 20.