LOS ANGELES - An African-American Monrovia police officer's lawsuit against the department did not contain enough facts to back up claims he suffered racial discrimination and harassment from a superior, a judge said Wednesday.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James E. Satt temporarily dismissed the suit, but said he would give the attorney for 40-year-old Officer Glenn Cobb 20 days to rewrite it. Satt said he wanted more facts that would support allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation and a hostile work environment in order to proceed.

Cobb's attorney Leo James Terrell said he purposely chose to file a "skeletal complaint," or one that contains minimal information, as part of a strategy to see how far the city's investigation into his client's claims had progressed. Terrell filed the suit on Aug 23.

"I didn't want them to ride or piggyback on what we know," Terrell said. "The million-dollar question is, `What have they done since Glenn Cobb submitted his complaint?"'

Recently filed court papers include claims a sergeant told Cobb that rather than celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday on the third Monday of each January, people should laud James Earl Ray, the civil rights leader's assassin.

In addition, a picture of Buckwheat, the black child from the "Our Gang" TV series, was taped to Cobb's computer, according to court documents. Though he removed it, the photo later reappeared in the form of a screensaver on his computer's desktop.

Cobb has been with the department for 10 years, and said the harassment began in October 2005.

"There were a series of racial comments and a hostile environment which Glenn Cobb has been subjected to," Terrell added. "The city has done nothing about it."

City attorney Craig Steele said Monrovia would defend itself "vigorously" against the suit.

"The city believes we've complied fully with the law and Mr. Cobb's rights and look forward to proving that in court if we need to," Steele said.

Monrovia spokesman Dick Singer said the city launched an investigation as soon as it became aware of a complaint; that investigation is ongoing.

"He unfortunately went ahead and filed his suit in the meantime," Singer said.

Attorney G. Arthur Meneses of Los Angeles-based law firm Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, who represents the city, stated in court papers that Cobb filed no formal complaint with the department, and offered no facts to support his claims.

Terrell said the Monrovia Police Department has a history of problems with "protected class citizens," which include blacks, gays and lesbians.

In October, Officer Mike Solarez filed a lawsuit against the department citing wrongful termination. Solarez claimed he was harassed, then fired, based on the fact he is gay. The trial is expected to begin in April.

Terrell said Cobb is on leave from the department and would like to retain his position.

"This drove him away from the force," he said. "He wants to return and be a good officer."

A call to Monrovia police Chief Roger Johnson was not returned Wednesday.