An off-duty deputy with the San Benito County Sheriff’s
Department was charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon by
the Orange County District Attorney’s Office Tuesday, according to
San Benito County Sheriff Curtis Hill.
Hollister – An off-duty deputy with the San Benito County Sheriff’s Department was charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office Tuesday, according to San Benito County Sheriff Curtis Hill.
Deputy David Hackman, 32, was charged after he allegedly pulled an Anaheim resident down a flight of stairs, causing him to fracture his skull, while leaving Angel Stadium after an Anaheim Angels/ Boston Red Sox baseball playoff game on Oct. 6, Hill said.
Hackman, a Red Sox fan who was wearing Red Sox gear, was walking out of the stadium when an Angels fan tapped him on top of the head with a “bang stick,” which is a light rubber balloon filled with air that fans are given to use as noisemakers, Hill said.
“(The victim) said something rude to Hackman and his buddy,” Hill said. “Apparently the deputy goes back, grabs the victim by the back of his collar… and he falls backwards off a flight of stairs and fractures his skull when he hits the pavement.”
The victim, Anaheim resident Daniel Joseph Slama, 28, was taken to the University of Irvine Medical Center’s intensive care unit, but was released two days later, according to hospital personnel.
His condition at this time is unknown because hospital staff are prohibited by law from releasing information about a patient’s condition.
Hackman, who has been off-duty for the past 10 months for a medical issue, has worked at the sheriff’s department for four years, Hill said. Prior to that he was an officer at the Hollister Police Department, the Riverside Police Department and the Los Angeles Police Department, he said.
He is currently at home at his residence located outside of the county, but Hill wouldn’t say where he lives and did not know who the lawyer representing him was.
“He’s had no problems with us,” Hill said. “I’m saddened, and I was surprised to see that this would be something he would have been attached to. He’s done great work for the people of the county.”
The sheriff’s department has begun an internal investigation into the allegations, which could lead to disciplinary actions, up to and including Hackman’s termination, Hill said.
Hill said the investigation will probably take three weeks to complete, and at that time he will make a decision concerning Hackman’s status.
Hackman’s first court date has been scheduled for Nov. 29, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
“My staff knows they will be held accountable for their actions,” Hill said. “So we move forward.”
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected]
