Officer Charged With Battery After Fight With Limo Driver

Criminal charges were filed Wednesday against an off-duty Beverly Hills police officer accused of beating a man in a traffic dispute, the Los Angeles city attorney’s office said.

Marion Piggee, a 13-year veteran of the Beverly Hills Police Department, faces misdemeanor charges of battery and detaining the victim against his will under the color of authority during an altercation with a 50-year-old limousine driver last month, said Brian Williams, deputy city attorney. Piggee faces a maximum penalty of one year in jail, he said.

Piggee, 42, was off duty at the time of the Aug. 18 incident. He was not arrested and has remained on active duty in Beverly Hills while the case was investigated by Los Angeles police. Piggee will be arraigned Oct. 11 in Los Angeles County Municipal Court.

The alleged incident occurred after limousine driver James Levert hit Piggee’s parked van in the Fairfax area. An argument ensued, and Piggee allegedly prevented Levert from leaving to call police and struck him, Williams said. Levert reportedly suffered cuts and bruises and was treated at a local hospital.

Beverly Hills police said they are conducting an internal investigation and could not comment on the charges.