sep 11, 1976 - Officers fired, suspended and resign

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A Riverside policeman was fired Friday, another officer as suspended for 30 days and a third policeman resigned hours before officials were scheduled to announce what action would be taken against him. The three officers are accused of harassing youthful residents of Riverside's Casa Blanca district, brandishing a gun and becoming involved in a bar fight. The Riverside County District Attorney's office has filed misdemeanor criminal charges against two of the men Mike Larkin and Pat Spellman. Larkin, charged with battery and brandishing a weapon, resigned Friday afternoon, citing "personal reasons" as the basis for bis decision. Spellman charged with battery was fired. In a terse written statement, department officials said the firing was ordered because the allegations against Spellman have been substantiated to the satisfaction of the chief of police." The third officer involved in the case, Joe Cahill was suspended without pay until Oct 1. He faces no criminal charges.

Spellman and Cahill were both assigned to Casa Blanca and were shot at there during mid-August, investigators say.

The Aug. 30 disturbances began after all three men drove through the district together, reportedly searching for a man they thought was responsible for the sniping. They didn't find him. After leaving Casa Blanca, they went to a Riverside bar where the fight broke out. Investigators say the Casa Blanca incidents and the bar brawl were not connected. Spellman and Cahill can contest the administrative action against them by filing appeals with the Riverside personnel board.

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