Joseph William Rooney a Los Angeles police officer has been charged with assault after, prosecutors say, he pistol-whipped a man and pointed his gun at two others outside an El Segundo bar in 2016.Joseph William Rooney could face up to 27 years in prison if convicted as charged, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The alleged victims had just left a bar in the 100 block of Main Street and were standing outside a nearby restaurant talking when Rooney approached them on May 22, 2016, according to Deputy District Attorney Oscar Plascencia.
Joseph William Rooney allegedly pulled out a handgun, pointed it at one of the men and struck him in the face with the weapon, then pointed it at the other two men, the prosecutor said. What precipitated Joseph William Rooney’s alleged actions, and whether he knew the men, was unclear. A witness who worked at another bar nearby and was used to seeing Joseph William Rooney in the area testified that she had seen him earlier that evening.
Off-duty Joseph William Rooney a Los Angeles police officer has been charged with assaulting three men in El Segundo last year, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced. Joseph William Rooney (dob 10/22/83) was charged in case BA461162 with four counts of assault with a firearm. The case was filed for warrant on Sept. 22. Joseph William Rooney is scheduled to be arraigned today in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.
Deputy District Attorney Oscar Plascencia of the Justice System Integrity Division is prosecuting the case. On May 22, 2016, three men had just left a bar in the 100 block of Main Street in El Segundo and were standing outside a nearby restaurant when Rooney allegedly approached them. Joseph William Rooney, who was off-duty at the time, is accused of pulling out a handgun and pointing it at one of the victims. He allegedly struck the victim in the face with the gun and then pointed the weapon at the two other men, the prosecutor said.
Prosecutors are recommending bail be set at $250,000. If convicted as charged, Joseph William Rooney faces a possible maximum sentence of 27 years in state prison. The case remains under investigation by the El Segundo Police Department.
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