CHP to investigate Riverside police chief’s early morning car crash

Riverside Police Chief Russell Leach crashed a city-owned vehicle about 3 a.m. Monday, going off the road and hitting a light post and a fire hydrant, authorities said Tuesday.

"Chief Leach was driving on Central Avenue and allowed his car to drift off the road," said California Highway Patrol Inland Division Chief Jeff Talbot. "I understand that two of the tires were down to the rim."

The CHP is investigating the incident, but Talbot said it was too early in the investigation to determine the cause of the accident or whether alcohol was involved.

"As far as any impairment, I have no idea. We will have to rely on statements from the Riverside police officers who were at the scene. There was no arrest," he said. "We will have the vehicle in here tomorrow, and I have some officers going out to the scene."

Riverside's city manager put out a brief statement Tuesday saying Leach had been involved in a single-car, non-injury crash. Leach has been placed on medical leave, the statement said.

Police spokeswoman Sgt. Jaybee Brennan would not comment except to say there had been an accident. She referred all questions to City Atty. Greg Priamos, who did not return calls for comment.

Talbot said Riverside Police Deputy Chief John De La Rosa contacted him Tuesday and asked the CHP to investigate the accident.

"He thought it would be in the best interests of everyone for us to do it," Talbot said. "They wanted us to come in because we are completely unbiased."

The CHP often handles such investigations when they involve other law enforcement agencies.

Leach recently helped lead a massive assault on the notorious East Side Riva gang in Riverside. And last Wednesday he warned against drinking and driving on Super Bowl Sunday.

"Designating a sober driver should be on the top of everyone's Super Bowl party list," he said. "It's just one of several easy steps to help save lives."

-- David Kelly

Comments

[theidahokid]

That will teach him to root for the Colts........

[cheska crawford]

I hope this accident doesn't have anything to do with drugs or alcohol because if it is a result of intoxication, it will certainly taint the reputation of authorities and citizens wouldn't take them seriously next time they remind us about drinking and driving.

[Schigolch]

If you drink, don't drive. If you drive, don't drink.

[Steve]

Anyone check to see if his wife was chasing him with a golf club?

[fred]

he is the chief of police for riverside, the article said that riverside officers responded. If the chief was drunk or anything fishy was going on, his officers that work under him could have covered something up. Afterall, he signs their checks and has full authority to change their "assignments" around.

[Bob W]

What this brief fails to note is that Leach was stopped by his own officers about 3 miles from the accident scene but no info was released on that stop. As a retired LE officer, this stinks of coverup, neglect and favoritism. No DUI tests reported as given, no blood tests or breath tests and no citations issued. Why was he out at 3a.m. in a city owned auto and why didn't he call for help when he wrecked the car? Lots to know and hope the CHP is not too late to get to the facts. Leach has a history of misconduct in San Diego and he got a pass there as well. Rx: Resign with a little dignity still left.

[Sandy]

Chief Talbot stated "IT'S TOO EARLY IN THE INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT AND IF ALCOHOL WAS INVOLVED".
If it were a private citizen I wonder if they would make that same statement????

[Rick]

If he is 3 miles from the accident scene then he fled the scene of an accident which depending on the cost can be a felony. Well, he demolished the car which is owned by the city of Riverside. I hope the CHP can get to the bottom of this.

[JM]

Yes boys and girls we will eventually hear there is no evidence to prove alcohol or drugs were a factor. In all probability no sobriety test what so ever was performed. The responding officers should have recused themselves and called in the Sheriff's or the CHP. I would trust the CHP more than any other LEO organization in California. They even arrest their own higher ups for DUI. It is not favoritism when cops let other criminal cops get a pass, it is a crime and should be investigated by the DOJ.

[Craig]

If it quacks like a duck - this sounds so suspicious from the get go. What is he doing driving a city vehicle at 3am in the first place, and how effective can any investigation by the CHP be, when the opportunity to administer any kind of sobriety test has long since past.

[Jordan]

So let me get this straight...

DUI only applies to non-government employees?

[Pat]

Sounds like booze to me. Can't blame Toyota on this one.

[Mike B]

This is how you normally determine it was a DUI case:
1. Leach crashed a city-owned vehicle about 3 a.m. Monday, going off the road and hitting a light post and a fire hydrant
2. allowed his car to drift off the road
3. Leach has been placed on medical leave

This is how distract readers from the DUI that never happened:
1.Leach recently helped lead a massive assault on the notorious East Side Riva gang in Riverside. And last Wednesday he warned against drinking and driving on Super Bowl Sunday.

[Mike B]

DUI Evidence -
Leach crashed a city-owned vehicle about 3 a.m. Monday, going off the road and hitting a light post and a fire hydrant.
Leach was driving on Central Avenue and allowed his car to drift off the road.

Cover Up-
Talbot said it was too early in the investigation to determine the cause of the accident or whether alcohol was involved.
Leach recently helped lead a massive assault on the notorious East Side Riva gang in Riverside. And last Wednesday he warned against drinking and driving on Super Bowl Sunday.

Karma-
Designating a sober driver should be on the top of everyone's Super Bowl party list," he said. "It's just one of several easy steps to help save lives."

Great move moron!

[BOOYA]

Clearly driver impaired...alcohol test ?...drug test ?...
what were the statements made onto the report ?...
3 in the morning...whats going on ?...
cover-up ?...abuse / mis-use of authority ?...the pubic
needs to know that laws must be abided by all...especially
those who are public funded employees.

[mikey]

bottom line is, no arrest....no chemical test = no dui. No further investigation needed, and no i wouldnt trust the chp. after 22 years in law enforcement they are the most corrupt and dishonest law enforcement agency in the state.

[John]

I was charged with 23152(a) VC by CHP after I hailed down their patrol car after consuming alot whickey when I was upset because of my divorce. I was not drunk, I was totally sober but I felt that I needed to tell them so I could leave my car on the side of the road while getting other transportation and I am inteligent enough to know the moment I drank all of that, that I would be in deep trouble 5 or 10 minutes up the road if I started driving. At 1st they were real cool and nice. They gave me a Road test and said, thanks for being responsible after the fact. They ran me of course and saw I was never convicted. They had told me to pull my car over their, so I did. 15 minutes had passed sinced I had hailed them down, now 20 minutes since I consumed. No sooner than I moved my car they lit me up!!!!!!!
They came up to the car and said "did you know one of your brake lights are out"? I said, "no". He went to right me a fix it ticket. He cam back and had me sign the ticket, I figured I was done and got out my cell phone to call a cab. All was good, but they waited behind me to see if I was going to leave or something I guess. They came back up to my car around 5-7 minutes later and I was drunk badly, he said "when I gave you the ticket I noticed that precription bottle on your dashbaord". "Have you taken any of those"? I said "yes, I take them everyday". He asked for the bottle, then asked me to get out of the car, meanwhile the cab has just shown up. I get out, he handcuffs me and "says he needs to take me in to draw my blood". They then put me in tha back of the patrol car, sent the cab on it's way, then called for a tow truck. I was talking to one of the CHP and I said, "I thought you were letting me go because of my honor and my being responsible", he said "after careful consideration and new circumstances we have to take you in on the medication usage".
I was charged with 23152(a) and 21352(b) VC and in his report he mentioned that I hailed him down and all that, but I was still convicted by Riverside Superior Court, Grover Trask DA Office for 21352(a) driving under the influence of (PRESCRIBED MEDICATION) and I was not convicted of the alchohol.
The bottom line is I learned we all can get disoriented by taking any precripstion medication and the punishment was a 4 month DUI class, which includes all types, mostly drunk drivers and illegal drug users. But I finished the class and paid fines & I had to do ten days home monitoring confinement ankle program during night hours, of course I got to go to work during the day, etc. The bottom line is retired Police Chief Russ Leach was in the very same violation that I was in, the major difference is that he was drunk also and he did a FELONY hit and run. Will the CHP and DA's office allow him to get off? If so, I probably will sue both agency's. Add your horor story to the comment section, let them know whats good for us regular people is good for them. Thanks, John.

[John]

We can say that at least the CHP has found enough evidence to charge Russ Leach as they would do any of us. I give them props as I knew they would file. Unfortunately everything but the prescribed medication admittance will be thrown out from the plea bargain, but at least he will get the help he needs. He will get fines, ankle bracelet home confinement, lose his driving privledge from the DMV for a period of time, insurance rate increases when he gets his license back and finally the DUI class he so deserves that I am in right now. With no shame or guilt as if our society charged with 23152 (a)vc a misdemeanor. Had we were a NO TOLERANCE State, none of us would have 1 drink and drive, let alone 5 or more!

Drinking does not make us bad people, its drinking and driving that makes us stupid people. But the law of .08 allows us to have bad judgement and anyone of us can fall under that trap. See we think we are all smart and were ok to drive. But if none of us ever drive even after the 1st drink, we would be a smarter, safer nation..

Johnsocali