MBPD officers investigated in hit-and-run

Four Manhattan Beach police officers were placed on leave immediately following a hit and run accident on Sunday, January 31  involving an automobile registered to one of the officers.

Last Thursday, Police Chief Rod Uyeda announced that his department is conducting an Internal Affairs Investigation “into the conduct of the off-duty officers involved in the collision as well as the on-duty officer(s) who handled the collision investigation.”

The names of the four officers were not released.

Chief Uyeda said the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department is also investigating the accident, which he described as a “three-car, hit and run collision with minor injuries, possibly involving an intoxicated driver…”

Police responded to the Sepulveda Boulevard accident at 7:30 p.m.

“When officers responded, the party that caused the collision had left the scene and injuries to the remaining parties consisted of complaints of pain,” Uyeda said. None of the victims required hospitalization.

One of the victims later spotted a damaged vehicle that he believed to be the car that caused the accident. It was parked unattended at a gas station on Manhattan Beach Blvd.

Police traced the car to a Manhattan Beach police officer. No report was taken by the attending officers, Uyeda said.

“I immediately had grave concerns about decisions that were made by police officers involved in the investigation of the collision,” Uyeda said.

The chief then requested the Internal Affairs investigation, which will look into the conduct of the off-duty officers involved in the collision, as well as on-duty officers who responded to the abandoned vehicle.

“I have absolute faith in the professionalism, competence and integrity of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department in conducting this very sensitive and important investigation and am confident that justice will be served when the investigation is complete,” Uyeda said.

He noted the party responsible for the accident will be presumed innocent until proven otherwise, as with any citizen.

“I would also like to reinforce that I am very proud of the men and women of the Manhattan Beach Police Department and in no way should anyone think any less of them because of the independent actions of a few,” Uyeda said.  “We stand by ready to serve the public and ask that you are patient and supportive as we all await the final outcome of this case.” ER

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