San Pablo cop, already suspended, arrested by S.F. police

Timothy Lewis French allegedly sold drugs to San Pablo police Officer Ken White. Timothy Lewis French allegedly sold drugs to San Pablo police Officer Ken White. Photo: San Francisco Police Photo: San Francisco Police Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close San Pablo cop, already suspended, arrested by S.F. police 1 / 4 Back to Gallery

A San Pablo police officer already suspended from duty has been charged with drug and gun possession and child endangerment after being arrested by San Francisco police, authorities said Monday.

Officer Ken White, 32, of Vallejo was arrested about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Seventh and Howard streets in the South of Market neighborhood after San Francisco police were tipped off that there would be a drug transaction there, said Officer Albie Esparza.

Undercover officers spotted White in a parked 1992 Ford Mustang with a 2-year-old girl inside, Esparza said. He said Timothy Lewis French, 57, walked up to the car and sold White what was later determined to be cocaine and heroin.

French was arrested on suspicion of drugs and weapons violations. The girl was turned over to social workers and later released to family members. Police said they didn’t know if the girl was related to White.

White pleaded not guilty Friday in San Francisco Superior Court to four felonies: possession of a controlled substance while armed with a loaded gun, two counts of carrying a loaded firearm, and child endangerment involving a minor under 3, authorities said.

He was also charged with misdemeanor counts of possessing heroin and cocaine salt. He was being held in lieu of $250,000 bail.

At the time of the arrest, the officer had already been relieved of duty and was on paid administrative leave for reasons that weren’t disclosed by San Pablo police.

“Chief Lisa Rosales and her command staff are saddened by the events that unfolded this past week, yet have demonstrated by their actions in this case that they are fully committed to holding their personnel accountable for their conduct,” according to a San Pablo police statement.

In 2009, White and Officer Frank Perino shot and killed 16-year-old Leonard Bradley, an unarmed carjacking suspect, after a chase. The officers were cleared of criminal liability.

White has served as a school resource officer at the city’s elementary schools and as a member of the San Pablo police honor guard, whose members are “highly motivated and maintain high standards of appearance and conduct,” according to the department’s website.

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