A former Chula Vista police officer was arrested last Wednesday on suspicion of a DUI hit-and-run, officials confirmed Monday.
Jesus Salazar, 32, was booked into county jail and has since been released on bail.
CHP officers say he tried to flee the scene of a multi-vehicle accident that involved a semi-truck and an over-turned vehicle in the center lane on the I-8 freeway near Japatul and Highway 79.
A 3-year-old child was injured in the crash which occurred around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, CHP Officer Brian Pennings said Friday.
This isn't Salazar's first run-in with the law. Court records show he's on probation for a misdemeanor charge of trying to cheat during a card game at a local casino in June 2011.
Salazar, who was an off-duty Chula Vista officer at the time, was arrested by Sycuan police for capping.
Capping is a term used in the gambling industry where a player tries to add money to a bet already placed after the outcome of the game is already known.
Salazar was placed on unpaid administrative leave shortly after the Sycuan incident and left the Chula Vista Police Department that June. He was first hired in February 2000, and served as an officer for 11 years, Capt. Gary Wedge said Monday.
After the Sycuan incident, Chief David Bejarano had strong words denouncing Salazar's actions.
"We're not going to tolerate that type of criminal misconduct," Bejarano said in June 2011. “This is one officer. This does not represent our department and law enforcement throughout the county.”
The former officer was also arrested for a misdemeanor DUI in April 2011 near the casino, during a separate incident .
Salazar is due to be arraigned on the new charges on October 17.
