SFist reports Castro resident, Vincent Calvarese, a veteran Lieutenant with the SF Sheriff's Department, was arrested this week for failing to appear at a court hearing to discuss why he'd missed one of his court-mandated domestic violence counseling sessions.
The probation and counseling order were the result of an incident that occurred last year in July when Mr. Calvarese, 49, who was off duty at the time, got into a physical altercation at the Castro branch of Gold's Gym, now Fitness SF, with a man he'd been dating. According to multiple eyewitness and recorded accounts the Lt. Sheriff had words with his ex in the locker room. Calvarese called him a liar, and then after a heated exchange, attacked him. Bystanders tried to intervene and stop the fight, and did for a brief time, until Mr. Calvarese -- who is 6'3" and weighs in at around 245lbs -- went after his former lover again that left the smaller man bruised and bloodied.
Consequently Calvarese was arrested after police responded to 911 calls and pleaded no contest to a domestic violence charges in May. He was sentenced to three years of probation, 150 hours of community service, 52 weeks of counseling, and had a restraining order initiated. He had remained employed within the Sheriffs Department in an administrative capacity with no contact with the public.
Mr. Calvarese is well-known throughout the LGBT community, has been involved in non-profit fundraising for a variety of causes, and campaigned for many political issues dealing with social justice. He's also a featured subject in the 2009 documentary 'The Butch Factor'. The film tackles the meanings of masculinity in gay men and culture through insightful interviews with a group of diverse gay men. Mr. Calvarese is interviewed extensively on his experience as an out gay man pursuing a career in the testosterone charged environs of law enforcement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=681LYBvZx4c&feature=player_embedded
Mr. Calvarese failure to attend his court appointed counseling session resulted in a bench warrant issued for his arrest. He was taken into custody on Thursday, Sept. 17th, without incident, processed, and released. He is currently on unpaid leave pending the outcome of his next court date on Monday the 23rd.
Bay Area/ San Francisco/ Crime & Emergencies
Castro Gay Lieutenant Sheriff Arrested
Published on September 22, 2013
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