Retired schools chief denies police impersonation charge

The former superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District pleaded not guilty today to charges that he unlawfully tried to pull over a woman in Pomona using a school police badge.

Ruben Zacarias, 80, did not appear at his arraignment hearing in Pomona Superior Court. His attorney appeared at the hearing and entered the not-guilty plea.

Zacarias, of Alhambra, is accused of displaying a badge and ID card issued by the Los Angeles School police while driving on the 57 Freeway on Aug. 27, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

He allegedly told a woman on the freeway to pull over because he was a "cop." Zacarias was issued a misdemeanor citation by the California Highway Patrol.

Zacarias worked as superintendent at LAUSD for about two years in the 1990s. He has been retired since he left the district nearly 10 years ago, said Stephen Meister, Zacarias' attorney.

Meister declined to discuss the facts of the case. Zacarias is next due in court Nov. 10 for a pre-trial hearing, Meister said.