S. Pasadena Fired, Rehired Officer After Hit-and-Run Crash

A South Pasadena police officer who is the son-in-law of a former mayor and was allegedly involved in an off-duty hit-and-run accident was fired four days after the crash--then rehired two weeks later, city officials confirmed Monday.

The disclosure is the latest twist in a case that has roiled a department already reeling from a scandal involving alleged on-duty sex by two officers.

In the traffic case, the name of Officer Scott Ziegler was omitted from the original police report, and the owner of the car he allegedly damaged says she was never paid.

Interim City Manager Linda Holmes said Ziegler was hired as a police officer Jan. 26, 1995. On the afternoon of Sept. 8, 1995, he drove a Camaro around a curve on Pasadena Avenue at about 50 mph and hit a parked Honda, according to updated police documents. Witnesses said the car stopped for a moment then sped off.

Four days later, Holmes said, Ziegler was terminated from the department. Yet he was hired back two weeks later, on Sept. 26, according to Holmes, who added that she was legally bound from giving reasons for Ziegler’s dismissal or rehiring.

Ziegler, 32, could not be reached for comment. Nor could Police Chief Thomas Mahoney, who officials said was away on a prescheduled vacation. In his absence, police said they could not discuss the case. Mahoney has previously said there was a paperwork error on the case and that Ziegler thought he only hit the curb.

Former City Manager Ken Farfsing said that the crash occurred while Mahoney, 48, was on vacation. A captain acting in Mahoney’s place decided Ziegler should be fired, but upon his return, Mahoney overruled him, Farfsing said. Two other officers who were with Ziegler in the car were disciplined, he said.

“No crime had occurred, I was told, and the D.A. didn’t want to press charges,” Farfsing said.

But Deputy Dist. Atty. Walter Lewis said Monday that he could not find paperwork indicating the case was formally presented to his office. He suggested checking with the Police Department, which would not comment on the case.

Farfsing also said Mahoney told him the owner of the Honda had been paid. But the owner, Marisa Colatriano, has repeatedly said she was never paid for the $550 in damage. She says Ziegler called her last week, told her he didn’t realize she hadn’t been paid and offered to compensate her. Colatriano says she turned him down.

Mahoney last week ordered a re-investigation of the case after inquiries from The Times about why Ziegler’s name was omitted from the original accident report. Ninety minutes later, Ziegler’s name was added to the report.