SF Police Chief Faces Hit-and-Run Charge

Alameda County prosecutors have charged San Leandro Police Chief Angela Averiett with misdemeanor hit-and-run over a freeway collision that authorities say happened in May 2025, and the city has placed her on administrative leave. The charge was announced by District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson on May 13 and alleges a violation of California Vehicle Code 20002(a), according to the district attorney’s office. The case centers on a crash on eastbound Interstate 580 near the Interstate 680 interchange in Pleasanton at about 10:51 p.m. on May 19, 2025. Averiett has denied knowingly leaving the scene and said she was dealing with a medical emergency. ### Which police chief was charged, and was it San Francisco’s? San Leandro Police Chief Angela Averiett — not San Francisco’s police chief — is the law enforcement official charged in the case. The preliminary item tied to Patch and MSN referred to a “police chief” in the Bay Area, but reporting from the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, ABC7, KQED and Bay City News identifies Averiett as the chief of the San Leandro Police Department. (da.alamedacountyca.gov) San Francisco’s police department did not appear in the charging announcement. The available reporting instead places the alleged collision in Pleasanton and the employment action in San Leandro. ### What do prosecutors say happened on Interstate 580? The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office said the charge stems from a collision on May 19, 2025, at about 10:51 p.m. on eastbound Interstate 580 near Interstate 680. (da.alamedacountyca.gov) Prosecutors said the California Highway Patrol handled the initial investigation and that the case came to the district attorney’s office after media attention on March 31, 2026. The Mercury News and KTVU reported that prosecutors allege Averiett, driving an unmarked city-owned Jeep Grand Cherokee with police lights on, clipped another vehicle and left the scene. The other vehicle was described in local reports as carrying a family. ### What has Averiett said in response? Averiett said at a May 13 news conference that she did not knowingly leave the scene of a collision. (da.alamedacountyca.gov) KQED and KTVU reported that she said she was experiencing a medical emergency and had no indication at the time that contact had occurred. ABC7 reported that Averiett publicly defended her actions after the charge was announced. (mercurynews.com) KTVU reported that she said she was unaware she had sideswiped another vehicle. ### Why was she placed on leave? The City of San Leandro placed Averiett on paid administrative leave on May 13 after the misdemeanor charge was filed, according to statements reported by Bay City News, KQED and CBS News Bay Area. (kqed.org) City spokesman Dustin Claussen said Assistant Police Chief Luis Torres would serve as acting chief while the city identifies an interim chief. (abc7news.com) KTVU reported that prosecutors said there was enough evidence to file charges even though the CHP had previously declined to cite her after its investigation. ### How serious is the charge, and what comes next? California Vehicle Code 20002(a), cited by prosecutors, covers misdemeanor hit-and-run involving property damage. The district attorney’s office identified that statute in its charging announcement against Averiett. (sfgate.com) Averiett is scheduled to be arraigned on June 18, according to multiple reports citing court information. (ktvu.com) Luis Torres remains acting chief while San Leandro looks for an interim replacement during the leave period. ### What about the “blue-haired bank robberies” mention? The Patch PM item bundled several unrelated local crime briefs into one digest, including the police-chief case and other incidents. (da.alamedacountyca.gov) The verified reporting available on the charge against Averiett does not connect the hit-and-run allegation to any bank robbery investigation or to San Francisco’s police leadership. (msn.com) (newswav.com)