LOS ANGELES — In a case predating the city's police corruption scandal, a former officer pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of a man he falsely reported tried to hide a gun during a burglary investigation.

Edward Patrick Ruiz, 36, admitted Friday he lied to a supervising officer about the 1995 arrest of a suspect he said he saw throwing away a weapon, and submitted a false report.

Ruiz, who resigned Thursday, faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced Jan. 22. He is free on bail.

Former Officer Jon Paul Taylor is scheduled for trial Sept. 12 on charges of conspiring to violate Victor Tyson's civil rights. If convicted, he faces up to 11 years in prison.

Tyson was tried on a misdemeanor charge of carrying a concealed weapon, but his case was dismissed before a verdict was rendered. Prosecutors sought the dismissal after discovering inconsistencies in the officers' testimony.

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The case occurred before the scandal involving the department's Rampart station came to light. Ruiz and Taylor worked out of the department's 77th Division station.

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