2 Officers Face Charges in Off-Duty Incident
Two LAPD officers arrested in an off-duty incident at a Long Beach bar face possible criminal charges, authorities said.
Officers Fernando Lopez, 38, and Michelle Diaz, 32, were taken into custody about 10:30 p.m. June 5 at the Club Cohiba, 144 Pine Ave., said Jana Blair, a Long Beach police spokeswoman.
Police sent there on a report of a disturbance were detaining Diaz when Lopez allegedly tried to intervene, Blair said. “He tried to pull her away from our officer,” Blair said.
Lopez was booked for misdemeanor interfering with a police officer and for allegedly trying to remove someone from an arresting officer’s custody, which is a felony, Blair said.
Diaz was booked for public intoxication and for interfering with a police officer, both misdemeanors.
Both were released on their own recognizance after being booked. The criminal investigation is continuing, and the case will be presented to the district attorney’s office for possible prosecution, Blair said.
A Los Angeles police investigation is also in progress, said Los Angeles police spokesperson Mike Partain.
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