SAN BERNARDINO - A San Bernardino police sergeant has accused a narcotics team supervisor of illegally arresting two men without citing their crime, a

The former director of Operation Phoenix has been placed on administrative leave, City Manager Fred Wilson confirmed Monday.

Wilson declined to comment further.

James Curtis IV, an attorney representing former program director Glenn Baude, called Wilson's action an attempt at scapegoating.

Prosecutors have brought two dozen felony charges against Michael Steven Miller, 48, a supervisor at one of the city's Operation Phoenix community centers, accusing him of molesting two young girls in recent months and another more than a decade ago.

Miller could face life in prison if convicted on all counts.

After Miller's arrest, the San Bernardino County district attorney's office investigated whether Baude, parks Director Kevin Hawkins or parks department employees Glenda Robinson and Curtis Brown had prior knowledge of Miller's possible sexual involvement with a minor or had violated state child abuse reporting laws. The district attorney's office announced Friday that there was not enough evidence to prove that they had violated any laws.

Curtis said Wilson placed Baude on administrative leave the next day.

"Mr. Baude has acted not only within the legal parameters that his job requires, but has acted ethically and above board through this entire sequence of events," Curtis said. "It seems that the city may very well be looking for a scapegoat."

Reach Chris Richard at 909-806-3076 or crichard@PE.com