Los Angeles herald., 1891-10-14
SERIOUS CHARGES.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PUT IN
A BAD LIGHT.
Officer Todd Made the Subject of Charges
to the Commissloners-Drun
and Malicious Arrest Alleged.

The burglary OF Last & Fisk's store
on Main street, last week, promises to
be prolific of some sensations in police
and patrol circles. AS one result, the
following charges were filed yesterday
with the clerk of the police commission:
To the Honorable Police Commissioners of Los
Angeles City.
GENTLEMEN: Thereby prefer the fol-
lowing charges against Police Officer ].
ID. Todd:
First-That said Officer Todd did on
or about the Sth day OF October, enter
the saloon of Last & Fisk, and drink in
toxicating liquors while on duty.
Secondhand the said Officer Todd,
while on duty on the Sth of October,
was drunk.
Third-That the said Officer Todd did.
while under the influence of liquor, and
without just cause, maliciously arrest
and prosecute your affiant.
Fourth-That the conduct of said
Officer Todd, on the Sth day of October,
was unbecoming that of an officer and
gentleman.
On Thursday night, October Sth,
while making my round in capacity of
Waterman in the employ of Emil Har-
.ris's merchants patrol, / was informed by
the operator at the branch district tele-
graph Office between the hours OF IL
and II p. M, that a burglary had been
discovered at the store of Last & Fisk,
Main street, and that it had been dis
covered by, and the place held in charge
of John Elms, a Waterman in the en-
ploy of Kearney d Insley.
Continuing my beat met Officer Todd
IL II. I 81
D. m. and informed him, he not having
next round-they being made every
hour-while passing the telegraph Of
flee, l was called one side by
the operator who had informed
me, and asked if l had told any
one, as John Fins had brought him
to task for telling about the burglary,
and he was afraid it would make trouble
for him (the operator.) Again continu-
ing my beat l met Officer Todd near
where l had previously met him, and
asked him to say nothing about who
had told him, thinking to shield the
operator from getting into trouble.
Thinking nothing further particularly
about the matter, | continued my work,
when shortly past 3 O'Clock, Friday a.
M, was placed under arrest by Todd
in the presence of Officers Davis and
lHalloran, he (Todd) catching hold of
my arm, saying must come along with
him and l was under arrest; thinking
the matter a joke, was treating it as
such, when, by the grip Todd retained
on my arm and the serious faces of
the other officers, it began to dawn on
my mind that it was not a Joke,
and asked what the matter was, Todd
replying that it made no difference,
that he was ordered to arrest me, and if
l didn't come along peaceably that he
would use force. Turning to Officer
Davis l asked if it was so and really
meant, he answering me in the affirma-
tive. l then signified my willingness
to go to the police station without force
being resorted to. When there / was
confronted by Officer Bosqui, who inter-
rogated me as to what l knew about the
burglary of Lask & Fisk g store, l refus-
ing to answer all questions until they
sent for and produced Captain Harris,
nv employer, whom l considered it due
to hear my story or report at first hands.
The refusal of the officers to summon
Captain Harris and my refusal to talk,
and after OBTAINING me the better part
OF an hour, l was informed that l was
at liberty to depart. l then voluntarily
told Officer Bosqui all knew, which
was substantially as the above.
Inow make charges against Officer
Todd of malicious arrest, assault, drunk
eness and drinking intoxicating liquors
while on duty. The former charges to
be proven by all investigation and the
latter one by the following witnesses,
whom l can produce: G. f. A. Last, r.
+. Van Cleaye. G., H. RurV. John Z.
Elms, Officer Bosqui.
hereby request of your honorable
body complete and searching investi-
CATION into the conduct OF Officer Todd,
and if the result of your investigation
shows that injustice and damage has
been done to me, that your honorable
body will see that complete and
full satisfaction be made to me as
your honorable body should deem most
Just. A. J. STONE.