An off-duty Los Angeles police officer has been charged with assaulting three men in El Segundo last year, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced.

Joseph William Rooney (dob 10/22/83) was charged in case BA461162 with four counts of assault with a firearm. The case was filed for warrant on Sept. 22.

He is scheduled to be arraigned today in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.

Deputy District Attorney Oscar Plascencia of the Justice System Integrity Division is prosecuting the case.

On May 22, 2016, three men had just left a bar in the 100 block of Main Street in El Segundo and were standing outside a nearby restaurant when Rooney allegedly approached them.

Rooney, who was off-duty at the time, is accused of pulling out a handgun and pointing it at one of the victims. He allegedly struck the victim in the face with the gun and then pointed the weapon at the two other men, the prosecutor said.

Prosecutors are recommending bail be set at $250,000. If convicted as charged, Rooney faces a possible maximum sentence of 27 years in state prison.

The case remains under investigation by the El Segundo Police Department.

Los Angeles District Attorney / case BA461162 / September 26, 2017