San Francisco police have arrested a police officer formerly known as the “Hot Cop of the Castro” in connection with a hit and run accident. The crash happened after 2 a.m. in the city’s North Beach area. According to police, Christopher Kohrs, a police officer, hit two men crossing a street. He then left his car and ran. He was arrested later that morning and is facing two charges of felony hit and run.
The men who were hit were hospitalized with serious injuries but are expected to survive. One was loading musical equipment into a car when the driver of a Dodge Charger hit him and a friend. One of the victims has suffered a broken leg and jaw, and the other has a broken neck, fractured eye socket, broken nose, broken jaw, and missing teeth. He also suffered brain bleeding after the accident.
A surveillance video shows people running towards the scene and at least one person running in the opposite direction, although it’s unclear if that person is Kohrs. Kohrs allegedly turned himself in about eight hours after the accident occurred, around 10 a.m., at the police headquarters on Third Street. Because of the large amount of time that passed between when the accident occurred and when he turned himself in, it’s unclear whether any sobriety tests would conclusively prove whether or not he was intoxicated at the time of the accident.
Last year, Kohrs became an internet sensation for his good looks and muscular physique after some fans created a Facebook page in his honor. Over 50,000 Facebook users have liked his page, which includes photos his fans have taken of him when he’s out patrolling the streets.
Kohrs joined the force in 2009 and works out of Park Station, covering the Upper Haight and North of Panhandle neighborhoods. He was on medical leave prior to the accident. If he is cleared to return from medical leave, he will be suspended. If he is found guilty, he will most likely lose his job.
Pedestrian accidents such as this one can affect the accident victims for the rest of their lives. Although bones may heal and scars may fade, it’s likely that there will be lingering effects of the accident for years or decades. Fortunately, help is available for accident victims. Individuals who are injured as a result of another party’s negligence or wrongful actions can sue for damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Members of the victims’ family may also be eligible for compensation.
It’s unfortunate that a member of law enforcement would violate the law in such an egregious manner. If the officer had been on the job at the time of the accident, the police department could also be held liable for the officer’s wrongful actions. If a police officer commits negligence or engages in intentional misconduct on the job, normally the police department employer can be held legally liable.
If you have been harmed by another person’s intentional or negligent actions, you may be legally able to sue that individual or his or her employer. At Liberty Law, Micha Star Liberty and Seth I. Rosenberg believe that anyone who is harmed by another party should seek compensation for damages. If you are in the San Francisco area and have suffered personal injuries, call San Francisco personal injury attorneys Micha Star Liberty or Seth I. Rosenberg at 510-645-1000 or 415-896-1000. They work with clients throughout the Bay area, including Oakland, Hayward, Fairfield, San Jose, Sacramento, and the surrounding areas. Our team will help you obtain compensation for your injuries. Call today to learn more or to schedule your free consultation.
