Tourist gets jail time for LSD-fueled rampage

A tourist high on LSD goes on a rampage, confronting Bodega Bay residents, attacking a security guard, and driving a stolen pickup truck towards multiple pedestrians. It was one of the more bizarre County crimes of 2019, and it gets weirder. Betai Koffi, 33, whacked on two hits of acid, then tried to run down a Sheriff’s Deputy, only to be hit in the face by defensive gunfire.

The software engineer from Southern California was sentenced Thursday to 12 months in county jail and three years on felony probation after pleading “no contest” to multiple felony counts of assault.

According to the District Attorney’s office, Koffi and a group of friends rented a home in Bodega Bay for the 4th of July weekend. After ingesting at least two doses of LSD, he left the home in the late afternoon to wander a nearby residential community. There, he was confronted by a security guard who had responded to multiple complaints made by other residents about his weird behavior.

According to a  law enforcement investigation, Koffi appeared agitated and attacked the security guard with a lawn lamp. After that assault, Koffi stole the guard’s nearby pickup truck and sped away. While driving down the road, Koffi encountered two couples walking across the street to watch the sunset — Koffi aimed his vehicle directly at the first  couple, striking the woman. He then aimed the truck at the second couple; they narrowly escaped injury by jumping out of the way of the vehicle’s path.

Koffi continued down the road and was confronted by a Sonoma County  Sheriff’s Deputy. The deputy directed Koffi to walk away from the vehicle, but Koffi accelerated directly at the deputy. The deputy fired multiple rounds from his firearm at Koffi, as the vehicle collided head-on with an assisting CHP officer’s SUV.

Koffi was struck by several rounds, including in the face and head, and was air-evacuated to Santa Rosa  Memorial Hospital to be treated for his injuries.  

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Honigsberg noted how tragic the case was for everyone involved. Koffi attended the hearing in a wheelchair and remains physically disabled as a result of his injuries.

When interviewed by the probation department prior to the hearing, Koffi explained that he felt “terrible” for the entire range of his actions, including putting the deputy in the position where deadly force was necessary. The judge found Koffi  to be “very sincere” and “extremely remorseful for what happened.”