Former Ventura police officer charged for allegedly lying about hit-and-run

VENTURA, Calif. - A former Ventura police officer has been charged for providing false information after she allegedly lied about being the victim of a hit-and-run.

Gabrielle Root, 27, of Ventura, was charged with one misdemeanor count of providing false information to a police officer, according to Ventura County District Attorney Gregory D. Totten.

According to the DA's office, on Dec. 20 Root was on duty when her patrol car crashed into a parked vehicle and sustained minor damage.

Root reported to the Ventura Police Department that her patrol car was damaged by a hit-and-run driver.

When the department learned that the information provided was false, a criminal investigation was conducted.

Root, who is no longer employed by the department, is due in court in August.

If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of six months in the Ventura County Jail.