Mention of Brutality Case Barred in Officers’ Trial
Reversing his earlier decision, a federal judge has barred prosecutors in the civil rights trial of six Los Angeles County narcotics officers from telling jurors about a 13-year-old excessive force case against one defendant.
U.S. District Judge Robert M. Takasugi said government attorneys could not refer to the 1978 brutality incident that led to a 30-day suspension for Los Angeles Police Detective Stephen W. Polak. Earlier, Takasugi had agreed to allow the evidence and severed Polak’s case from the other defendants. But the judge changed his mind Thursday, saying that the information could unduly harm the case of the other defendants.
Takasugi said closing arguments are set to begin next week for Polak and five sheriff’s deputies accused of skimming money, beating drug dealers and planting cocaine during raids in the 1980s.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
