LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Two Los Angeles Police Department officers were charged in connection with an alleged off-duty fight outside a restaurant in East Los Angeles a year ago, the District Attorney's Office announced today.
Juan Israel Zendejas, 47, was charged with one felony count each of assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury and battery with serious bodily injury, while co-defendant Rudolph Rivera, 44, was charged with one misdemeanor count of battery.
Both men have pleaded not guilty and are due back in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom Dec. 4.
Zendejas and Rivera allegedly confronted a 35-year-old man who was talking with a female acquaintance as they were leaving a restaurant in the 4500 block of East Cesar Chavez Avenue on Oct. 21, 2018, according to the District Attorney's Office.
Zendejas -- who could face up to seven years in state prison if convicted as charged -- allegedly punched the man, who fell unconscious, according to the District Attorney's Office.
Rivera allegedly subsequently approached the man -- who had regained consciousness -- and pushed him to the ground a short time later, according to the District Attorney's Office. He could face a maximum of six months in county jail if convicted as charged.