Riverside police chief says he has 'no full memory' of wreck

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Riverside police chief says he has 'no full memory' of wreck

By PAUL LAROCCO

The Press-Enterprise

Riverside police Chief Russ Leach said he was disoriented on prescription drugs when he crashed his city-issued car at 3 a.m. Monday and kept driving until his own officers pulled him over.

"I feel horrible about this," he said in an interview late Wednesday. "I know the department and the community is going through a lot."

The city placed Leach, 61, on medical leave Tuesday, the second time in less than a year.

He said he continues to take unnamed medications for the back injury suffered then, as well as some for other ailments. He would not say if he had been drinking alcohol in the hours leading to the collision.

"I don't have full memory of this," Leach said of his drive. "But I take absolute full responsibility for what happened."

After nearly two days, Riverside police turned over its investigation of the chief's wreck to the California Highway Patrol. That agency has questioned many of the prior decisions.

"We will investigate this, basically, like no report was taken by the police department," said CHP Inland Division Chief Jeff Talbott.

Authorities have said that Leach's black Chrysler 300 jumped the curb at Central and Hillside avenues and struck a fire hydrant and light pole. He continued on for roughly three miles despite a hanging fender and two blown tires.

Riverside officers stopped the chief at Arlington Avenue and Rutland Road, after receiving reports that his car had been throwing up sparks. It appeared that no one gave him a field sobriety test, Talbott said.

"There's no information about the traffic stop anywhere in the report," said the CHP commander.

Riverside police Assistant Chief John DeLaRosa declined to comment on whether any officers will face discipline for their handling of the crash, and referred all other questions to the city manager's office. They did not return phone calls.

Leach, however, said he "seriously doubted" that anyone purposely omitted information.

Prior Leave

The events leading up to the collision and traffic stop remain cloudy. Leach would not say where he was that evening -- Super Bowl Sunday -- and said he wasn't sure how he ended up in the neighborhood where he crashed.

His friend, Frank Schiavone, said Wednesday that he didn't believe the chief would drink and drive.

"If someone's taking prescription drugs and has even a half-a-glass of wine or one beer," the former councilman said, "it would have adverse affect."

The chief was previously the focus of another law enforcement investigation. In 2004, a San Diego hotel security guard claimed he saw, through a window, Leach strike his then-wife during an argument inside their room.

Prosecutors declined to file charges based on the San Diego police probe.

"We're frustrated and upset this thing was blown way out of proportion from the beginning," Leach said then.

Even if prescription medication caused Monday's crash, state law allows criminal charges to be filed.

"A lot of those prescription drugs have warnings," said San Bernardino County Supervising Deputy District Attorney David Hidalgo, a traffic case veteran, speaking generally. "Just because someone has a lawful prescription does not mean they can drive a motor vehicle."

Standard Procedure

An officer spotting a car with significant damage, as if it had been damaged in an accident, has discretion to make a traffic stop.

They would typically look for signs -- like paint transfer -- that damage was caused by another vehicle. Next they'd call neighboring agencies to see if anyone had reported a collision, including ones with injuries.

California law requires that drivers stop and alert authorities in wrecks resulting in only property damage.

"The person could have hit a guardrail on the freeway," said San Bernardino County sheriff's Sgt. Dave Phelps, who coordinates the department's grant-funded traffic enforcement. "It's still a hit-and-run."

If the driver of such a vehicle exhibits any overt symptoms of impairment, including the odor of alcohol and bloodshot or watery eyes, officers can request a field sobriety test. Traveling in an extremely damaged vehicle can be considered in requesting such a test.

Some agencies, including Redlands police, said that they always defer to outside sources if a wreck involves one of their own.

"We have a policy here that we don't investigate our own traffic collisions," said police spokesman Carl Baker. "It takes away any hint that there may not be impartiality."

Others Kept Jobs

Two Riverside police officers previously convicted of impaired driving have not lost their jobs. Melissa Brazil, who pleaded guilty in 2005, and Jeffrey Adcox, who did so last year, both received probation and a first-offender treatment program.

Leadership at the Riverside Police Officers Association did not comment Wednesday on the chief's treatment compared to its members.

"As an agency, we look forward to the thorough completion of this investigation and continuing our dedicated service to the citizens of the city of Riverside," Cliff Mason, the group's president, said.

Talbott said that the CHP's findings could take more than a week. Generally, he said impaired driving charges are possible solely on witness statements -- but that having blood samples or field sobriety test results are always preferred.

"At this point, it would be too late for that," he said.

Leach reiterated his "deep apologies" to the city and department, and did not say when he believed he could return to the position he's held since 2000.

"More than anything," he said, "I just thank God no one was injured."