From: The Examiner
By Jonah Owen Lamb 3/25/15
The San Francisco Examiner has learned the name of the sheriff’s deputy being investigated for allegedly pulling a gun on a man and his two children across the street from the Hall of Justice in December, but the story has been disputed by a representative for the deputy.
Scott Osha, treasurer of the San Francisco Deputies Association, a veteran deputy who has been with the department since 2005 and currently works at the Community Programs Division, allegedly pulled a pistol from his trunk after a minor fender bender erupted into an argument on Gilbert Street, just feet away from the union’s office, according to multiple sources.
Scott Ong, a seven-year parking enforcement officer, was parking his Acura in an alley across the street from the Hall of Justice in late December when a white Volkswagen allegedly tapped his front bumper. When the Volkswagen’s driver got out of the car after parking and said nothing, Ong told the man, who was in plainclothes, that he’d tapped his car.
An argument ensued and the Volkswagen driver, which sources later confirmed was Osha, went to his trunk and brought out a bag that he set on the back of the car, according to Ong. Then Osha allegedly pulled a revolver out of the bag and set it atop the bag, telling Ong that he had messed with a cop. The incident ended when Ong yelled, “Police brutality.”
Osha did not return calls for comment on the matter, which is still awaiting a district attorney charging decision. The Dec. 28 incident is also being investigated by the Sheriff’s Department.
But Harry Stern, an attorney for Osha who could not confirm that Osha was involved in the incident, said Ong’s story is distorted.
Stern said Ong became aggressive after the alleged fender bender and said, “’I’m gonna beat your ass, even in front of my kids.’”
Osha tried to calm Ong down since he was in an irrational rage, Stern said. When Ong said he was gonna go to his car and get out a baseball bat, Osha took his badge, holster and pistol out of a briefcase and told Ong if he attempted to hit him with the bat he would defend himself. “He never pointed a gun at him and the gun never came out of the holster,” said Stern. “I believe he will be exonerated.”
Ong’s lawyer Eric Safire, who was hired a month after the incident, said his client is frustrated with how slowly the case is progressing. Safire says there were several witnesses to the incident, but he wouldn’t say who they are.
“It seems to me when an officer does something involving a gun on duty they should [at least] be on leave … there should be some consequences,” Safire said.
