Gun Charges Filed Against Sheriff’s Celebrity Reservist

The city attorney’s office filed two misdemeanor counts against former Sheriff’s Department celebrity reserve Scott Zacky on Thursday in a case stemming from an incident in which Zacky allegedly pointed a gun at a couple outside his Bel-Air home.

Zacky, a member of the family that runs the Zacky Farms chicken firm, was charged with illegally brandishing a firearm and illegally using a laser targeting scope. He was sent a letter Thursday informing him of the charges and ordering him to appear at an arraignment next month.

According to a report prepared by the city attorney’s office, Zacky ran out of his home in his boxer shorts and pointed his Sheriff’s Department-issued handgun at a couple about to leave on a date; he apparently mistook the couple for car burglars. They contacted the Los Angeles Police Department, which conducted an investigation.

Asked for comment on the complaint, Zacky, 35, said: “It’s news to me,” and declined all further comment.

David Ogden, Zacky’s attorney, said he was unaware of the complaint and surprised to hear from a reporter that it had been filed. Further, he said, “I don’t think there’s any support for it.”

The city attorney’s report said that Zacky came out of his home at about 7:20 p.m. Aug. 31 and “assumed a shooting position,” pointing the weapon at the couple. The gun had the laser scope, an aiming device, on it, the report said.

Zacky was relieved of duty less than a month after he was sworn in to Sheriff Lee Baca’s celebrity reserve unit and given a uniform, badge and gun. The 20-member unit was disbanded by the sheriff in November after Zacky and one other reserve had trouble with the law. The other member was arrested in an undercover operation and charged with money laundering.

Baca had set up the reserve unit as a way to get high-profile community members involved in department events; mostly, the unit was made up of business people, but no celebrities.

In setting up the unit, Sheriff’s Department officials rushed background checks on the candidates the reserves, and reduced the training required for them, officials said. They also missed failed to detect an earlier charge against Zacky. He had pleaded no contest in 1992 to a misdemeanor charge of brandishing a firearm and was subsequently sentenced to 90 days’ house arrest, according to court records.