By Vivian Ho
San Francisco Chronicle
SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco police officer known as the “Hot Cop of the Castro” apparently had a green light when he allegedly ran down two pedestrians, authorities said Wednesday, but his attorney would not say why he fled the scene and waited eight hours to turn himself in.
Whether Christopher Kohrs, 38, was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of Sunday’s crash was the issue at hand at his first court appearance Wednesday, where he pleaded not guilty to two felony hit-and-run counts.
District Attorney George Gascón expressed concern that because Kohrs did not surrender to police until hours after the incident in North Beach, investigators were unable to get an accurate reading on his sobriety at the time he allegedly sent two men to the hospital with serious injuries.
Outside of court, Gascón told reporters that Kohrs apparently had the green light when he hit the pedestrians, raising questions of why the off-duty officer would bolt from the scene if he had the right of way.
Defense attorney Anthony Tall said in court that the charges against Kohrs do not reflect that drugs or alcohol were involved, but Gascón said the charges could change should more evidence come to light.
Kohrs was allegedly driving westbound on Broadway when he slammed his 2009 Dodge Charger into the two men, both in their 40s, who were crossing the road near Montgomery Street about 2:20 a.m., police said.
He abandoned the car at the scene and ran away, but investigators were able to trace the vehicle to Kohrs through its registration. Kohrs waited until 10 a.m. Sunday to surrender at the new police headquarters building in Mission Bay.
He was booked into San Francisco County Jail on suspicion of felony hit-and-run after an interview with internal affairs officers, but has since been released on $100,000 bail.
He appeared in court in a suit and tie and stood quietly as Judge Edward Torpoco ordered him not to drive during the course of the case, unless necessary for work. Police said Kohrs was on medical leave at the time of the crash and will be placed on suspension should he become eligible to return to duty.
Kohrs declined to comment outside court as reporters and cameramen followed him. His attorney said he was on medical leave because he hurt his knee chasing someone while on the job.
Kohrs, a seven-year veteran of the department, became known as the “Hot Cop of the Castro” when neighborhood residents began posting photos of him on social media.
The Police Department took advantage of his fame and good looks, using his photo on a billboard advertisement seeking job applicants.
“Other than being a hot cop, he was also well known for being a good cop in the community and going the extra mile,” Tall said. “He’s still the same guy.”
Tall said his client’s main concern was that the two victims make a speedy recovery.
Gascón said while hit-and-run crashes are always concerning, they are especially so when there are allegations that a law enforcement officer was involved.
“As law enforcement officers, we’re sworn to uphold the law, and we’re sworn to protect the public,” Gascón said. “When we do not uphold the law and when we’re not protecting the public, we make a mockery of the whole system.”
Copyright 2015 the San Francisco Chronicle