Jury Rejects False-Arrest Suit in Teacher’s Death

A federal court jury on Friday rejected a Van Nuys teen-ager’s claim that he was falsely arrested last year by Los Angeles police officers who were investigating the shooting death of a popular Grant High School teacher.

The six-member jury deliberated about two hours, concluding a three-day trial in U.S. District Court on Hai Waknine’s $10-million lawsuit against detectives Mel Arnold, Tom Cuillard, Raymond Bennett and Blair Eckert.

Waknine said that on March 24, 1989, police arrested him and held him for seven hours as a suspect in the slaying that morning of teacher Hal Arthur.

Arthur, 60, was gunned down as he left his Sherman Oaks house for school.

Police were led to Waknine, then 16, after being told by students that he might have been involved in the case. But he was cleared of any involvement after talking to police.

Five days after being interviewed by police, Waknine filed suit charging that police arrested him without probable cause and searched his house and car and submitted him to a polygraph examination without his consent.

But in testimony during the trial, police said Waknine was never arrested but willingly cooperated with police in an effort to clear his name.

A key piece of evidence presented by police was a tape recording of Waknine’s interview with detectives in which the youth was told he was not under arrest and he, in turn, stated, “I would be more than willing to help you guys in any way.”

Assistant City Atty. Philip J. Sugar, who represented the officers, was pleased with the verdict but said there was never any question whether the officers acted properly.

“There is no way that anybody could say this kid was being harassed, bullied or pushed around,” Sugar said. “The police bent over backward to be fair to him, to protect his rights. The jury agreed with that.”

Waknine’s attorney, Stephen Yagman, said he will appeal the verdict. He said Sugar improperly attempted to tell the jurors during his closing argument that a verdict in favor of Waknine would require the city to pay Yagman’s fee.

Sugar denied he acted improperly.

Meantime, police said, the investigation of Arthur’s death remains open and there are no suspects.