San Mateo deputy charged with brandishing gun at custodian

In this file photo, lawyers and defendents in San Mateo County Court in Redwood City.

In this file photo, lawyers and defendents in San Mateo County Court in Redwood City. Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close San Mateo deputy charged with brandishing gun at custodian 1 / 4 Back to Gallery

A San Mateo County sheriff’s deputy was charged with pointing his gun at a custodian during an unusual courtroom confrontation, authorities said Friday.

Deputy Andy Mar, 50, was charged with brandishing a firearm, a misdemeanor, on April 13 in a seventh-floor courtroom in Redwood City. Court was not in session at the time.

A custodian was talking to a court clerk when Mar, who was across the room and working as a temporary bailiff, took out his gun and pointed it in the custodian’s direction, said District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

Afraid, the custodian “tried to move out of the way,” but Mar kept the gun “displayed in his direction,” Wagstaffe said. He did not say what allegedly motivated the action.

Mar denied ever pointing the gun at or near the custodian, authorities said. His attorney was not immediately available for comment Friday.

He is on paid administrative leave from the sheriff’s office, which is conducting an internal investigation, said Deputy Rebecca Rosenblatt. Mar is to appear for his arraignment May 22.

Mar has been with the sheriff’s office for more than 20 years and was working an overtime shift in court. He normally works in the jail, Rosenblatt said.

“As a law enforcement agency, we hold ourselves accountable,” Rosenblatt said. “We hold ourselves personally to a higher standard, and if one of us strays, we’re going to be subjected to the same things as anybody else. Nobody is above the law.”

Henry K. Lee is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: hlee@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @henryklee