Riverside Police Chief Investigated For Car Crash

RIVERSIDE -Riverside’s police chief is under investigation after smashing his city-issued car into a fire hydrant.

The California Highway Patrol says it’s investigating allegations that Russ Leach was driving while impaired and that Riverside police didn’t put that suspicion in their initial report.

The city manager’s office says Leach was placed on medical leave Tuesday, a day after his Chrysler 300 struck a hydrant and a street light. The office says Leach wasn’t hurt in the 3 a.m. crash but the car had two blown tires and fender damage.

Jeff Talbott, a division chief with the CHP, says police officers stopped their chief in the damaged car a few miles from the crash site. It’s unclear whether they noticed any impairment.

A call to the chief’s office Wednesday wasn’t immediately returned.