Daily News from New York, New York • 511

7 A THOMAS MNUTEK DAILY NEWS BE CAREFUL, RAY: Ray Mercer (I.) and Andrew (Foul Pole) Golota meet press after signing for May 16 bout at the Garden. Cecil's uiffe plans to sue Florida cops MEWS WIRE SERVICES MELBOURNE, Fla. The wife of Yankees star Cecil Fielder plans to sue the Melbourne Police Department for $25 million, claiming illegal arrest, unlawful detainment and battery, her lawyer said yesterday. Stacey Fielder claims she was unlawfully arrested when she stopped to inquire about her 10-year-old child, who was involved in an automobile accident in a car driven by her cousin. Police have said Stacey Fielder ignored orders to stay away from the accident scene.

1 "Because my family is black and affluent, I feel that the local police department has unduly harassed us and it's time for us to put a stop to it," the Yankees' designated hitter said in a statement released by his lawyer. Big trouble in LL BOCA RATON, Fla. A Palm Beach County sheriffs detective who doubles as a Little League coach is accused of roughing up the son of Cleveland Indian in-fielder Tony Fernandez. Coach Bill Hietanen allegedly grabbed Joel Fernandez, 11, by the shoulders and threw him against a concrete wall in the dugout when the boy got into a shoving match with Hietanen's son, Ryan, after a game. Joel told police Hietanen warned him: "If you ever touch my son like that again, I will kill you." The report said the dispute began when a third player stepped on Joel's bat bag.

The battery investigation was closed by police after Fernandez' wife, Clara, said she didn't want to file charges but wanted the case documented. She later wrote Mayor Carol Hanson demanding Hietanen be dropped as a coach and banned from the ballpark where the incident occurred March 8. Mrs. Fernandez also suggested Hietanen be barred from carrying a gun. Separate trial er Mesa CLEVELAND Cleveland reliever Jose Mesa was granted separate trials on sex and weapons charges, and he also will be tried separately from a co-defendant Mesa, the club's closer, will go on trial March 31 on rape, two counts of gross sexual imposition and felonious assault charges.

No date was set for a trial on a charge of carrying a concealed weapon. Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Thomas Curran granted the defense request for the separate trials "in the interest of justice." He expressed concern that testimony about the weapons allegedly found by police in Mesa's car could prejudice the jury on the other counts, which involve the threat of violence. Assistant Cuyahoga County prosecutor Frank Gasper said during a recess in a pretrial hearing that giving Mesa two trials would lengthen the proceedings to more than a week. The team is expected to ask baseball's commissioner's office for permission to replace Mesa with another pitcher on the 25-man roster while he is on trial. The Indians open the season April 2 in Oakland.

Golota bout brings new low in humor erts. Said Lou Duva, "Who's next? Amtrak?" Carl Mor-etti, Main Events matchmaker, said Roberts "has such a big ego, on his birthday he sends his parents congratulations." BOXING MICHAEL KATZ U. Roberts also manages Shan- iivu ui niuiui rv win HBO bout May 31 against Kirk Johnson. He meets Melton Bow- EVERY NOW AND then, if you can believe this, boxing takes, the low road. Yes, it's hard to believe, but there was a press conference yesterday for Andrew (Foul Pole) Golo-ta's next fight, and Kathy Duva of Main Events had a costume company deliver a suit of armor for the opponent Ray Mercer refused to wear it He took another tacky approach and showed up at the Garden in brand-new Army fatigues, apparently unaware the guy in Warsaw Golota was convicted of beating in a bar brawl was also a sergeant though in a different army.

Dino Duva, Kathy's brother-in-law, said he thought of entitling the May 16 Garden fight something like "No Holds Barred" or "Look Out Below." But he said this was too "serious a matter." Lou Duva, Golota's trainer, said "maybe we can make this fight eight rounds Andrew got through 9 rounds last time (against Riddick Bowe) without getting disqualified." That was twice in a row. Golota was going to see a psychiatrist or psychologist to see what made him throw away two sure victories against Bowe by foul means. Did he? "Yeah, he saw me," said Lou Duva. "I saw my wife," said the Chicago-based Pole. "She told me we need the money.

Lou went (to see the shrink). I'm a busy man." He said it won't happen again. "It bothers me I didn't win, but what can I do? Shoot myself?" If he put a gun to his head, he probably would shoot something lower. He said, "I got to prove I can fight clean." "Problem is," said Lou Duva, "I don't want to take his fight away. I don't want to stop him from being mean and vicious." Beyond the jokes, beyond the fact that Golota's last Garden appearance turned into a full-fledged riot last July 11, this is one heck of a fight The Gar- den said there wouldn't be a riot this time Rock Newman, Bowe's manager, will not, as suggested by one sick mind, referee.

He is barred from the arena. HBO vice president Lou DiBella said this was just an old-fashioned fight "without any costume jewelry on the line." If any jewels were on the line, Mercer did not seem concerned. His manager, Marc Robets, said Mercer was willing to have no referee at all and write into the conract the bout can't be stopped by a low blow. "If the ref doesn't do his job," said Mercer, "then I got to do mine." What if Golota can't break his habit? "Then something's going to break," he said. He said he would "let the guy feel the pain he's trying to inflict" But Mercer said he was "very impressed" with Golota "he'll do anything to win; that's my motto, too." Spoon fed: Tim Witherspoon, 39, who lost heartbreaker to Mercer last December, in other half of HBO double-header, opponent to be named, either Jeremy Williams or Samson Pou'ha, guy Golota, hurt, bit in neck in 1995.

Unbeaten Michael Grant wisely decided he wasn't ready. Dino Duva said Lennox Lewis would be willing to defend WBC belt against Mercer, Golota or Witherspoon, provided he wins mandatory defense against Henry Akinwande. Mercer has fought, in row, Evander Holyfield, Lewis and Witherspoon since reuniting with Rob en on USA network April 15, then will appear on Garden card May 16 but, Roberts ruled, not against Gary Bell. Grudge match: Comebacking Donald Curry, 35, faces fighter he used to manage, Emmett Linton, April 9 in Vegas. Earlier this year, they almost came to blows in gym Azumah Nelson and Genaro Hernandez meet in terrific matchup on pay-per-view Saturday night from Corpus Christi and promoter Bob Arum kvells "they had the best boxing press conference I've ever been to, each of them raving about the other's abilities." If Hernandez' hands are okay, and he says "no problem," he's got shot to upset grand old warrior.

Las Vegas Hilton reportedly has sold fewer than 100 tickets to Michael Moorer-Vaughn Bean card next week. IBF stripped Terry Norris of 154-pound title for meeting its welterweight champion Felix Trinidad in June instead of mandatory Raul Mar-quez, who'll now face Anthony Stephens on ABC April 12, an afternoon lead-in to Pernell Whi taker-Oscar de la Hoya pay-per-view confrontation that night Norris-Trinidad will be for WBC 154-pound title still held by Norris. Sub-Marines: Mercer said he's not shocked Bowe, Olympic roommate, flunked out of Marines "he did it backwards, after winning heavyweight title." Golota said he thought "he's supposed to stay at least three months," and said maybe old rival should try Navy next.