Los Angeles cop convicted in hit-and-run sent to prison for evaluation
A Los Angeles police officer convicted of leaving the scene of an accident in a 2008 hit-and-run was sent to state prison for 90 days Tuesday to undergo an evaluation that could determine his sentence, a prosecutor said.
Prosecutors are seeking a two-year prison term for Officer William J. Skett, who was convicted of striking two pedestrians as he was backing up his Hummer in a Saugus parking lot and then leaving the scene. Skett was convicted in October after a jury deliberated for 2 1/2 days.
Jurors, however, were divided on a charge of driving under the influence, causing injury. And they acquitted the officer of a third felony count, driving with blood-alcohol level of 0.08%.
Skett was arrested at his home an hour after the pedestrians were struck.
Prosecutors say the delay in arresting the officer meant they were unable to debunk Skett's claim that his blood-alcohol level was elevated because he drank once he got home after the incident.
Skett denied he was driving the car.
Witnesses said they saw Skett's vehicle hit a man and a woman at 2:30 a.m. as he backed out of a parking space in a lot near a restaurant and bar.
Prosecutors alleged that Skett got out of his vehicle, saw the injured victims and sped from the parking lot near Bouquet Canyon and Soledad Canyon roads, abandoning his Hummer after leaving the area.
One of the pedestrians, Susan Sims, then 62, suffered multiple broken ribs and collapsed lungs. The unidentified 65-year-old man suffered minor cuts and bruises.
Sheriff's deputies quickly traced the abandoned Hummer to Skett. He denied he had been behind the wheel, they said.
Sims' son, Deputy Dist. Atty. Jon Hatemi, told The Times after the incident that Skett was a "coward" and "disgrace to the Police Department."
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L.A. police officer convicted of fleeing after hitting pedestrians
-- Richard Winton
I can almost hear Chief Beck saying "this guy does not represent us"... Yadda, yadda, yadda...something is wrong with LAPD standards and nobody wants to address it...
Posted by: Rick | February 01, 2011 at 01:43 PM
A Hummer no less. Get this "Peace Officer" to Afganistan straight away...after 10 in the clink!
Posted by: Stanton | February 01, 2011 at 02:24 PM
Rick is absolutely correct, the hiring standards have really been relaxed by the Mayor and the City Council, they thought it would be a good idea to have a police force that was "reflective" of the community. Obviously this has not been a good idea, time to stop hiring the inner city and minority tards and time to start hiring the best candidates the job regardless of race and/or gender. Affirmative action has ruined almost all of society.
Posted by: u know | February 01, 2011 at 03:30 PM
Another one bites the dust!!! :-)
Posted by: batteredbypd | February 01, 2011 at 03:39 PM
"A disgrace" Boy, that's kind.
Posted by: Roger Jones | February 01, 2011 at 03:59 PM
Disgusted!
Posted by: publicsurrvant54 | February 03, 2011 at 10:25 AM
most people who did what this man did are in prison for life why is he any different,because he is a cop.
Posted by: frankie | February 04, 2011 at 10:02 PM