San Diego

A former police reservist was sentenced Friday to one year in jail for shooting at a moving van on Interstate 8 after its passenger allegedly threw trash out the window, hitting the defendant’s car.

David Bruce Watson, 33, of Santee was placed on three years’ probation and given credit for 174 days previously spent in jail.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Barbara Gamer ordered Watson to pay $540 in restitution to Randy Zummo, 33, whose van was hit by the bullets in the Aug. 31, 1985, incident.

Watson spent 90 days at Chino State Prison, where officials recommended that he be granted probation with a county jail sentence. Because of his diabetes and association with law enforcement, he was kept in isolation part of the time.

Watson was a reserve officer for the San Diego Police Department for five years, but his gun and badge were taken and he was fired after he reported the 3 a.m. incident to police.

Meanwhile, Zummo told a reporter Friday he is disavowing a negligence suit against the city that was filed under his name by an attorney Tuesday.

“We’re not pressing any lawsuit against anyone,” Zummo said. “It’s a mistake. If it was filed, it was without my permission.”