A San Francisco police sergeant pleaded no contest this morning in San Francisco Superior Court to DUI charges stemming from a crash in the city’s Inner Sunset neighborhood last month, a district attorney’s office spokesman said.
San Francisco police Sgt. Thomas Haymond had pleaded not guilty in late October to misdemeanor DUI and hit-and-run charges, but has now agreed to plead no contest to the DUI charge and was given three years’ probation, district attorney’s spokesman Alex Bastian said.
Prosecutors alleged that Haymond had been driving with a blood-alcohol level of .28 percent while off-duty when he crashed into a parked car and struck a tree near 12th Avenue and Lawton Street around 8:35 p.m. on Oct. 8.
Residents heard the crash, looked outside and called police.
Responding officers found a debris trial that led them to the driver’s home in the 1100 block of Moraga Street, where Haymond was found, police said.
No injuries were reported in the crash.
Under his plea bargain, Haymond agreed to be placed on three years’ probation, participate in a 30-day residential treatment program, attend 90 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, perform 50 hours of community service and join a nine-month first-offender program, Bastian said.
He has also agreed to pay restitution for damage caused in the crash.
Haymond has been out of custody and has been placed on paid leave at the Police Department, San Francisco police Officer Gordon Shyy said.
When he returns to the department, he will be assigned to an administrative position, Shyy said. He will not serve any patrol functions.
At a court appearance last month, Haymond’s defense attorney Matthew Sullivan said his client has been a police officer since 1991.
Sasha Lekach, Bay City News
