2 Officers Apologize for Taking Lawyer From Court

Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Alan B. Haber Friday declined to initiate contempt of court proceedings against two Los Angeles police officers who last week dragged a deputy public defender out of his courtroom on the orders of another judge.

But the public defender’s office is planning a disqualification campaign aimed at forcing the reassignment or transfer of the judge who issued the order. The aggrieved defender, saying he was still nursing a bruised leg, plans a civil suit against the officers.

Haber ruled after Officers Nicholas Titiriga and Gregory Baltad apologized to Haber for forcibly removing Deputy Public Defender Howard C. Waco from Haber’s courtroom Nov. 6. Judge Raymond T. Mireles had asked the officers to bring Waco to his courtroom, jokingly adding “bring me a piece” of Waco.