LAPD CHIEF'S DAUGHTER ARRAIGNED IN DRUG CASE

Crime: The L.A. police clerk and an accomplice are accused in Las Vegas of
trying to sell 20 grams of cocaine.

The 37-year-daughter of Los Angeles Police Chief Bernard C. Parks was
arraigned Monday in a Las Vegas courtroom on felony drug charges,
authorities said. Michelle Lynette Parks, a civilian clerk for the LAPD,
is accused of conspiracy to sell cocaine and trafficking in cocaine.

After her arraignment, Parks was released on her own recognizance and
ordered to return to court Sept. 29 to determine whether she is financially
able to hire her own defense attorney or will need a public defender
appointed to represent her. She has not yet entered a plea.

Prosecutors allege that Parks and an accomplice conspired to sell 20 grams
of cocaine to an undercover Las Vegas police officer June 25. Parks
allegedly drove the accomplice to a spot where the transaction occurred,
prosecutors said. Parks' alleged partner was identified as Reginald
Gathwright, 21.

If convicted of the charges, Parks faces a possible maximum sentence of 15
years in prison.

Chief Parks declined Monday to comment on his daughter's situation. "As a
matter of department policy, the LAPD does not comment on other agencies'
investigations," said Cmdr. Dave Kalish, the chief's spokesman. Kalish said
Michelle Parks has been on medical leave from her LAPD job since November
1997. She has been with the department since April 1996, he said.

Clark County Chief Deputy Dist. Atty. Scott Mitchell said an arrest warrant
had been issued for Parks last week. Las Vegas police notified LAPD
officials that they had issued an arrest warrant for Parks. After finding
out that she was wanted by police, Parks surrendered to authorities Monday.
Mitchell said he was unaware of Parks' relationship to the LAPD chief until
reporters started calling his office Monday. "This is just a routine case
for us," Mitchell said.

A law enforcement source said Parks identified herself as the chief's
daughter when Las Vegas patrol officers pulled her over shortly after the
alleged drug transaction. Parks was not immediately arrested because the
investigation was continuing, authorities said. Kalish said the LAPD is
conducting an internal investigation into the allegations against Parks.
"She's being treated like any other employee," he said.

Chief Parks, who has four grown children--three daughters and a son--is not
the only local official to have the actions of his relatives scrutinized
because of his prominence. When former Chief Daryl F. Gates was in office,
his son Scott was arrested several times on suspicion of drug possession
and was sentenced to a year in jail for the 1985 robbery of a pharmacy.
Phyllis Bradley, daughter of former Mayor Tom Bradley, pleaded guilty in
1990 to a misdemeanor drunk driving charge and was sentenced to 60 days in
jail.

Copyright 1998 Los Angeles Times. All Rights Reserved

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski