Officer Says Bell's Ex-Police Chief Tried To Stop Probe

BELL (AP) — A retired Bell police sergeant says the city's former police chief tried to stop an investigation into alleged wrongdoing by city officials shortly after he took office last year.

The Los Angeles Times reported Monday that James Corcoran said former Police Chief Randy Adams became irate after hearing his account of evidence that officials might have engaged in voter fraud, unlawful vehicle seizures and the illegal selling of building permits.

The former sergeant says Adams told him not to go to the FBI about the alleged corruption in Bell without his permission.

An attorney for Adams denies that his client became angry at Corcoran or tried to stop any investigation.

Adams was one of three top Bell officials who resigned after The Times reported their unusually high salaries last July.

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