San Benito County Sheriff Curtis Hill said he will soon make a
decision whether to retain a deputy charged with assaulting a man
at a baseball playoff game last October and who is being sued in
federal court for allegedly beating a Hollister resident.
Hollister – San Benito County Sheriff Curtis Hill said he will soon make a decision whether to retain a deputy charged with assaulting a man at a baseball playoff game last October and who is being sued in federal court for allegedly beating a Hollister resident.
Deputy David Hackman has been on paid medical leave from the sheriff’s department for more than a year, and while Hill had planned on waiting until Hackman’s preliminary hearing to decide the deputy’s fate he said he’s changed his mind and will most likely make a decision in the next couple weeks.
“I’m getting ready to make a move real quick,” Hill said. “I’ve got some other personnel matters (unrelated to Hackman) and I’m going to lump them all together and make a decision at the same time.”
Hackman faces disciplinary action up to and including termination, which would leave him without his pension if he’s fired, Hill said.
Hackman’s trials in civil court stem from an incident last April when Hackman allegedly beat an elderly Hollister man during an arrest. The case is in Federal court in San Jose and 71-year-old Jose Jimenez’s attorney, Bill Marder said he’s hoping to settle the case without having to go to trial. Marder believes the suit will net his client a settlement in the six-figure range and heads to court again on April 12, he said.
Hackman is scheduled to appear before a judge at the Orange County Superior Court in May for a preliminary hearing for the felony battery charge. At that time a judge will decide if there is enough evidence to take the case to trial.
Hackman allegedly attacked a man at a Boston Red Sox/Anaheim Angels baseball playoff game in Anaheim last October, Hill said. Hackman was off-duty when he allegedly pulled the man down a flight of stairs after the man bopped him on the head with a plastic noisemaker, according to Hill. The man suffered a fractured skull and two fractured vertebrae, according to Orange County Deputy District Attorney Michael Pear.
When Hackman was charged in Anaheim, Hill initiated an internal investigation into the allegations. Hill originally said he would make a determination to Hackman’s status when the investigation was complete, but has yet to do so even though it has been finished for some time.
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or em*******@fr***********.com
