Former Officer Denies Using Excessive Force
A former Burbank police officer pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of using excessive force against a transient man and then filing a false report on the incident, Deputy Dist. Atty. Hector Guzman said.
The charges stem from a Jan. 19 incident in which Daniel L. Shaw allegedly used excessive force against Michael Vaughn for allegedly interfering with Burbank Fire Department personnel who were helping an injured person, The Times reported earlier this year.
Vaughn suffered bruises, but was not hospitalized in the incident. He was found dead April 12 on a sidewalk in Burbank, although investigators found no sign that his death was caused by the alleged incident with Shaw.
The coroner’s office said Vaughn, 47, died of massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage with an underlying ulcer.
Shaw, 40, served for five years on the Burbank police force before being dismissed shortly after the charges were filed.
“He strongly believes he’s being wrongly accused and he’s looking forward to having the truth come out in trial,” said Shaw’s attorney, Bill Seki.
A pretrial conference has been set for Sept. 7, Guzman said.
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