3 Police Officers Charged With Child Cruelty At A Boot Camp For Troubled Youths

SAN LUIS OBISPO (CBS/AP) -- Three police officers have been charged with abusing 10 children at a boot camp for troubled youths in the mountains of San Luis Obispo.

Friday, San Luis Obispo County prosecutors filed misdemeanor charges against South Gate Officers Edgar Gomez and Carlos Gomez-Marquez. They also charged Huntington Beach Officer Marissa Larios.

Prosecutors contend the three roughed up 12-to 16-year-olds while serving as drill instructors at a weeklong boot camp held in May.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the $400 police-sponsored boot camp for Los Angeles County youth was at a military base. Parents sent their kids there to learn "the three pillars of the LEAD program: Leadership, Empowerment and Discipline."

Parents said their children reported being slapped, kicked, stomped and beaten bloody at times. One boy returned home with a fractured hand.

The arrests were the result of a 2-month investigation "that included searching the cellphones, computers, vehicles, photos and belongings of camp leaders."

The three officers are on leave and are free while awaiting arraignment.

Messages seeking comment from William Hadden, an attorney for Gomez and Gomez-Marquez, wasn't immediately returned.

It wasn't immediately clear whether Larios had a lawyer.

Huntington Police Chief Jorge Cisneros this is the first time he's ever heard any accusations of this kind about the LEAD program.

"I've been here for five years, and these are the first allegations that I'm aware of," he said.

Police have temporarily suspended the program.

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