Pasadena : Defamation Claims Rebutted
City Atty. Victor Kaleta says that two defamation claims filed by a former Pasadena schools security chief and his wife against the city Police Department and Cmdr. Donn Burwell are groundless.
The identical claims filed by Charles and Anne Parcell allege that police violated the Parcells’ civil rights by conspiring to falsify evidence, threaten witnesses and publicize false information during an investigation about a computer reported stolen from school district headquarters.
Authorities claimed Parcell filed a false police report Sept. 25, reporting a computer stolen that was later recovered by police from the schools security office.
Kaleta said the investigation and subsequent prosecution of Charles Parcell for filing a false report regarding the missing computer was pursued in good faith.
He said Burwell was assigned to the case because it involved the head of security for local schools.
Burwell said he had not read the claims filed April 9. A claim must be filed before a lawsuit can be initiated. The claims do not specific monetary damages.
Attorneys for the Parcells declined to comment on the claims.
Parcell was fired last month.
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