From Phillip Reese:
Police charged an off-duty Sacramento Sheriff's deputy with felony DUI Sunday after she plowed into an open Starbucks coffee shop in Natomas, injuring an elderly woman.
Lisa Gargano, 37, allegedly drove her SUV into the Starbucks near Arena Boulevard and Duckhorn Drive at 8:23 a.m. Sunday. Witnesses said she careened through the parking lot, hitting several curbs and another car before crashing into the building, police spokesman Sgt. Norm Leong said.
Seven or eight people were inside the coffee shop. Most were able to hop out of the way. The elderly woman, who police said was in her 80s, was trapped by the car. She was taken to a nearby hospital, and authorities said her injuries are not life threatening.
A Starbucks employee was also moderately injured.
Authorities believe Gargano, 37, was taking prescription medication, Leong said. He declined to name the specific medication, citing health confidentiality.
Sheriff John McGinness confirmed that Gargano is one of his deputies, but added that he couldn't say much more.
"It's a personnel matter," he said. "And Sacramento police have an open criminal investigation."
Gargano has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, McGinness said. He did not know how long Gargano had been on the force.
Gargano was booked and released from the main jail Sunday afternoon.
Ken Brown, had just ordered his coffee when, he said, "I heard this loud bang and a car came crashing through the window."
Brown jumped out of the way.
"Everybody is screaming, and there's a little old lady pinned against the ground."
Brown said the driver of the car continued to push on the accelerator ever after the car had come to a stop.
"She had a look like she had no idea where she was at," Brown said.
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