San Leandro Police Chief Placed on Leave Following Misdemeanor Hit-and-Run Charges

"A year after San Leandro Police Chief Angela Averiett was accused of swiping the side of another car in the East Bay then driving off, she now faces misdemeanor charges and has been put on administrative leave. San Leandro's police chief, Angela Averiett, is now on administrative leave after being charged with misdemeanor hit-and-run Tuesday, stemming from an incident in Dublin last May, which was initially reported by ABC 7's Dan Noyes and covered by SFist in April."

"According to KTVU, Averiett denies the allegations, saying she was unaware she swiped another car. She told investigators with the California Highway Patrol she was experiencing chest pains at the time, which stopped after she exited the road. "I want to be clear that I did not knowingly leave the scene of a collision," she said at a press conference Wednesday."

"Driver Daffani Ryan told Noyes that someone in an unmarked Jeep with flashing police lights swiped her car on eastbound I-580. The side mirrors from each car reportedly smacked each other, creating a shotgun-like banging sound. Ryan said the other driver then turned the police lights off and quickly exited the highway. Once Ryan found out the alleged driver was Averiett, she reportedly tried to file a police report but was met with resistance from then commander Lt. Antwinette Turner."

"Turner allegedly offered to fix the damage on Ryan's car if she refrained from filing the police report. Per ABC 7, the damage on both mirrors was consistent with Ryan's story. Averiett repeatedly declined to speak to the press about the allegations prior to being charged, claiming she didn't hear the loud bang. "Given the minimal nature of the reported damage a small scratch on the other vehicle's side mirror I had no indication at the time that any contact may have occurred," Averiett told the press Wedn"

San Leandro Police Chief Angela Averiett was placed on administrative leave after being charged with misdemeanor hit-and-run. The charge stems from an incident in Dublin last May involving an alleged side-swipe on eastbound I-580. Averiett denies knowingly leaving the scene and said she was unaware she struck another car. She told California Highway Patrol investigators she experienced chest pains while on the road and that the symptoms stopped after she exited. A driver reported that an unmarked Jeep with flashing police lights hit her car, then the lights were turned off and the driver exited quickly. The driver later tried to file a police report and said she was discouraged by a commander who offered to address the damage instead. Damage to the mirrors was reported as consistent with the driver’s account.

Read at sfist.com