Desert Hot Springs Officers Say They Didn’t Abuse Suspects

A Desert Hot Springs police sergeant and a former officer pleaded not guilty today in Los Angeles to federal charges stemming from the alleged use of Tasers and pepper spray on suspects in custody.

Sgt. Anthony Sclafani, 40, and former Officer David Henderson, 51, were indicted Feb. 18 in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles on charges of deprivation of rights under the color of law for allegedly using a Taser to stun suspects, said Thom Mrozek of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Sclafani was indicted on two counts of deprivation of rights under the color of law for allegedly using a Taser to stun suspects on two occasions in February 2005, Mrozek said.

One of the suspects was handcuffed when he was zapped, and a female suspect was also sprayed in the face with pepper spray, according to Mrozek.

Henderson was indicted on one count of deprivation of rights under the color of the law for allegedly using a Taser on a handcuffed suspect in August 2004.

Each count carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Henderson’s case was assigned today to U.S. District Judge George H. Wu, who scheduled a trial for May 18.

Sclafani’s case was assigned to U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Nguyen, who scheduled a status conference for May 24.

However, the government has filed a “notice of related case” and the court may decide to consolidate both cases before Judge Wu, according to Mrozek.

Desert Hot Springs police Chief Patrick Williams said he became aware of an FBI investigation in June 2007. Williams said the department cooperated with their request for documents, but did not know the details of the investigation.

Sclafani has been placed on administrative leave, he said.

The officer was promoted to sergeant in July 2007. He was recently assigned as a patrol watch commander and as the administrative sergeant.