Officer Pleads Not Guilty in Altercation at Gas Station

A San Diego police officer pleaded not guilty Tuesday to eight charges related to an off-duty altercation at a Chula Vista gas station in January.

Alonzo Alexander, 28, was arraigned before Municipal Judge Nicholas Kasimatis, who allowed the two-year police veteran to remain free on his own recognizance.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Robert Eichler said Alexander is charged with four felony assault counts, three of which charge the officer with aiming a gun at two different men.

The Jan. 29 incident arose after a dispute over who had first arrived at a particular pump at a gas station on Otay Valley Road, according to police reports.

The alleged victim in the dispute is Jesse Smith, 26, of San Diego. Alexander is charged with using the butt of his gun to hit Smith on the head.

The second alleged victim in the case, Brain Hession, was delivering gas to the service station. He had no intention of becoming involved in the incident, police reports indicate, but the dispute between Alexander and Smith moved close to Hession. Alexander allegedly also aimed a gun at him.

Alexander was not in uniform and was not on duty at the time. The misdemeanor charges against him include two counts of brandishing a weapon during a fight and two counts of simple assault.

Kasimatis set a preliminary hearing in the case for Aug. 12.