
SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A San Diego police gang detective accused of driving drunk and crashing his undercover police car while off-duty late last year pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a pair of misdemeanor DUI charges.
Jeffrey David Blackford, 34, entered his not guilty plea via facsimile in San Diego Superior Court, according to a spokeswoman for the City Attorney's Office. A readiness conference was scheduled for March 27.
Blackford, an 11-year member of the San Diego Police Department, was driving an undercover police car when he got into a solo crash in the 7300 block of Princess View Drive in Allied Gardens early on the morning of Dec. 7, SDPD public-affairs Lt. Andra Brown said.
The wreck left him with injuries that required hospital care, she said.
Blackford is serving desk duty pending resolution of the case.