Calif. man gets 8 years for attempting to run over firefighter
By Shauntel Lowe
Vallejo Times Herald
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VALLEJO, Calif. — A Vallejo man convicted of assault for trying to run over a firefighter with his car in April was sentenced to eight years in prison Tuesday.
Eric Davis, 32, faced nine years in prison on two charges of assault for hitting Vallejo Fire Capt. Ann Cavanaugh with his car and punching another firefighter.
Cavanaugh, who has been with the department for 10 years, has not worked since April because of a brain injury she suffered when she was slammed to the pavement by the force of Davis' car.
"Mr. Davis deprived me of a career I love," Cavanaugh said after the sentencing.
Vallejo police and firefighters had responded to a report of a car crash on Werden Street on April 29. Davis was one of the victims.
As paramedics tried to treat Davis, who said he had a seizure, he got back into his car and started it. One firefighter went to the driver's side door and tried to remove the keys as Cavanaugh stood in the passenger door.
Davis punched the firefighter, then put the car into reverse, striking Cavanaugh with the door. He then drove forward and would have run Cavanaugh over if firefighters hadn't pulled her out of the way, police said at the time.
Deputy District Attorney Larry Kuo said Davis' defense had been that he was unconscious at the time.
Solano County Superior Court Judge Robert Bowers presided over the case.
Cavanaugh said she understands Davis wasn't targeting her specifically.
"He would have done this to anyone standing there," Cavanaugh said.
The firefighter who once worked 48-hour shifts said now she finds it difficult to stay awake more than 12 hours.
Retired fire Sgt. Bob Sampayan said he was "sad to see this happen to someone this dedicated."
"We could be losing one of the best firefighter EMTs this city has ever seen," Sampayan said. He now works as a part-time Solano County Deputy Sheriff two weeks each month.
Cavanaugh, who helped design and teach Vallejo's ALERT emergency preparedness course, said she doesn't know when — or if — she will be able to return to work. She said her injury has been "frustrating and debilitating."
Sampayan and Cavanaugh said Vallejo can't afford to lose another firefighter right now. Cavanaugh is pictured in a billboard the public safety union recently had put up near Sonoma Boulevard and Georgia Street.
On the way to court Tuesday, Cavanaugh saw the billboard for the first time.
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