Four Law Enforcement Officials Arrested in SLO Boot Camp Child Abuse Investigation
UPDATE
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department has concluded its investigation into allegations of physical abuse on children attending a boot camp in SLO last May, and have arrested four members of law enforcement as a result of that investigation.
Arrested were: Detective Marissa Elizabeth Larios, 36, and Officer Patrick Marvin Nijland, 47, of the Huntington Park Police Department, and Officer Carlos Manuel Gomez-Marquez, 31, and Officer Edgar Yovany Gomez, 35, of the South Gate Police Department.
The one week Leadership Empowerment and Discipline Boot Camp, which was held from May 17-24, did not involve any local central coast children. The camp was put on by the Huntington Park and South Gate Police Departments, but because it was held in San Luis Obispo County, the Sheriff’s Department began an investigation after it received a report of the allegations by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.
The Sheriff’s Department was able to identify 15 boys and girls, nine boys and six girls, ages 12 to 17, who claimed they had been assaulted by the drill instructors. After a lengthy investigation, arrest warrants were served for the four suspects on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Bail for all four suspects was set at $20,000. They’ve all posted bond and are not in custody.
Gomez and Gomez-Marquez were charged with: Felony willful cruelty to a child, making felony criminal threats, criminal conspiracy, also a felony, and two misdemeanor charges of criminal battery and abuse under color of authority.
Larios was charged with two felony counts and two misdemeanor counts that included: Willful cruelty to a child, criminal conspiracy, criminal battery, and abuse under color of authority.
Nijland was charged with one felony and two misdemeanor counts that included: Willful cruelty to a child, criminal battery, and abuse under the color of authority.
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ORIGINAL STORY
LOS ANGELES (AP), Calif. – Investigators say seven California children had injuries consistent with abuse after attending a boot camp for at-risk youth last month.
Tony Cipolla, a spokesman for the San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Office, declined Wednesday to describe the children’s injuries.
Greg Owen, an attorney representing the children’s parents, says most had cuts and bruises and one had a fractured hand.
The parents say their children were punched, kicked and stomped on during the camp held in San Luis Obispo between May 17 and 24 put on by the Huntington Park and South Gate Police Departments.
Cipolla says the sheriff’s office is still interviewing 39 children who attended the boot camp and their drill instructors, all members of two Los Angeles-area police departments.
A spokesman for one of the police agencies says both are taking the allegations very seriously.
