Fired Policeman Pleads No Contest

Former Manhattan Beach Police Officer Richard William Hatten, II, 36, pleaded no contest today to a misdemeanor charge of leaving the scene of a traffic collision on Jan. 31, 2010 while off duty. He was sentenced to three years probation, 45 days of community service with CalTrans and fined $1,000, said Paul Nunez, deputy district attorney.

Hatten, the car's driver, and his passengers, fellow former MBPD officers Eric Eccles and Kristopher Thompson were fired by the city this past March after criminal and independent internal investigations by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Eccles and Thompson were cleared of any criminal wrongdoing and did not face charges stemming from the incident. 

The traffic collision took place near the intersection of Manhattan Beach and Sepulveda boulevards.

Police officers are required to give testimony in an internal investigation but do not have to provide information to authorities who are investigating whether or not a crime has been committed, Manhattan Beach Patch learned earlier this year.

Rod Uyeda was chief when the incident occurred. He retired in May and has been replaced by Chief Eve Irvine.