Prosecutors say Hackman, who worked for the San Benito County
Sheriff’s Office, was off-duty when he was leaving the division
series game on Oct. 6, 2004, and became angry when a fan tapped him
on the head from behind with an inflatable
”
thunder stick.
”
Hackman grabbed the fan’s brother and threw him down the
steps.
ASSOCIATED PRESS AND FREE LANCE STAFF
SANTA ANA
A former San Benito County Sheriff’s Office deputy has been convicted of throwing a man down the stairs at Angel Stadium and fracturing his skull after a 2004 playoff game between the Angels and Boston Red Sox.
David Hackman was found guilty last week of one felony count of battery causing serious bodily injury.
Prosecutors say Hackman, who worked for the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office, was off-duty when he was leaving the division series game on Oct. 6, 2004, and became angry when a fan tapped him on the head from behind with an inflatable “thunder stick.” Hackman grabbed the fan’s brother and threw him down the steps.
Hackman faces up to three years in prison when he is sentenced Jan. 9.
A message left with defense attorney Ron Brower was not immediately returned to the Associated Press. He previously has told the Free Lance that his client was acting in self defense after the man hit him on the head with an inflatable, plastic noisemaker.
In August 2005, Hackman retired from the sheriff’s office after five years, citing medical reasons. He was allowed to keep a portion of his pension after an internal investigation cleared him in another incident.
