San Francisco 'Hot Cop' charged with felony hit-and-run
SAN FRANCISCO - Authorities in San Francisco confirmed Tuesday night that an off-duty police officer known as the "Hot Cop of Castro" will be charged with two counts of felony hit-and-run for a weekend incident that injured two pedestrians.
Christopher Kohrs is accused in the hit-and-run reported at about 2:20 a.m. early Sunday morning at Broadway and Montgomery Street, according to police.
District Attorney George Gascon Tuesday said that the lack of sobriety testing immediately after the collision could cause problems for prosecutors handling the case. He described himself as "outraged" by the incident.
"When a law enforcement officer commits a crime, the level of concern becomes much greater," Gascon said. "We're very concerned and we're upset that this happened."
The pedestrians, two men in their 40s, were crossing Broadway when a Dodge Charger traveling west struck them, police said. They were taken to a hospital, where they remain with injuries considered serious but not life-threatening.
The Dodge driver fled, leaving the car behind. Investigators identified Kohrs, the registered owner of the car, as the driver and he later turned himself in at police headquarters, according to police.
Kohrs, 38, is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday for the incident.
"It's definitely strange to know that our officers who are supposed to be protecting us are off-duty and hitting us," witness Olivia Dickinson told KTVU from the lobby of the Centerfolds Club on Broadway, adjacent to the crash scene.
"I heard the crash and I saw the orange Charger come to a stop, " described doorman Kevin Cochran to KTVU.
Cochran was standing outside the Penthouse Club, had a clear view of the crash, and called 911 when the men went flying.
"They were thrown from the crosswalk about twenty yards down the street," Cochran said, pointing. "They were left lying within about five feet of each other."
Cochran said neither man was moving when paramedics arrived, and one was bleeding heavily from a head injury.
"It was pretty disturbing to begin with, so I was really disturbed to hear it was an off-duty cop," observed Cochran.
San Francisco police say if he becomes eligible to return to duty, he would then be placed on suspension.
KTVU has featured Kohrs as recently as August when he participated, shirtless, in an "ice bucket" fundraiser for families of fallen police officers.
"It couldn't be for a better cause," he commented at the time. "It supports loved ones. It's a dangerous job and bad things happen."
Kohrs was booked into county jail on suspicion of two counts of felony hit-and-run. He later posted bail and is no longer in custody.
Kohrs gained social media fame during his time patrolling the gay-friendly Castro District. A Facebook page dedicated to him has more than 52,000 followers.
Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to call the Police Department's anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or to send a tip by text message to TIP411 with "SFPD" in the message.