A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy was arrested in Long Beach on suspicion of driving drunk and crashing into a wall, seriously injuring another man, court records show this month, California’s police watchdog said. A few weeks later, his security officer license was suspended.
Justin Cham, then a 25-year lieutenant in the special operations division, pleaded not guilty in September and was released on his own recognizance, according to jail and court records.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announced this week that he left the agency later that month.
“We are committed to ensuring that all employees comply with department policies and maintain the professionalism that our community expects and deserves,” the department said in an emailed statement. “If an individual violates department guidelines or the law, they will be held accountable.”
Mr. Cham could not be reached for comment, and a lawyer involved in his criminal case did not respond to email inquiries.
According to the Long Beach Police Department, just before 11 p.m. on Sept. 18, officers responded to a traffic accident at Pacific Coast Highway and Bellflower Boulevard, where they discovered a heavily damaged vehicle.
Police said the vehicle appears to have been headed north on Pacific Coast Highway when the driver lost control and crashed into a wall.
The passenger, identified in court records as Abelardo Balderas, suffered injuries to his lower body, but authorities have not disclosed the nature of his injuries. Police said the man was taken to the hospital.
The man behind the wheel, identified by police as 48-year-old Cham, was taken to the Long Beach City Jail for booking.
On September 20, he pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of driving under the influence. Prosecutors alleged in the criminal complaint that his blood alcohol level was over 0.15%. The legal limit for drivers over 21 is 0.08%. He is scheduled to appear in court again in January.
Two months after Cham’s arrest, the California Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission suspended Cham’s peace officer certification effective Nov. 13, citing the pending criminal case.
Dozens of Los Angeles sheriff’s deputies have had their licenses suspended or revoked by the state, but until recently that wasn’t an option. The 2021 law, which created the first mechanism for states to disqualify police officers and legislators, only took effect last year.
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