On Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at 6:46 p.m., a Sacramento Police Department officer, was working supplemental employment at a local business in the 1800 block of 19th Street. That officer was hailed by a security guard regarding a male white adult causing a disturbance and refusing to leave the property. During this incident the subject’s dog became aggressive, and bit the officer.  The dog eventually lunged at another responding officer, and that officer discharged their firearm once at the dog.  The subject, the security guard, and the dog received minor injuries from fragments of the round that was fired.

Please follow the link below to view the original press release:

https://apps.sacpd.org/Releases/liveview.aspx?reference=20191219-155

Today the Sacramento Police Department is releasing video material related to this incident.  The material consists of four body-worn-camera (BWC) videos. These videos were captured by the three primary officers involved in the incident.  The videos show the initial response of these officers, and ends where the subject is transported by Sacramento Fire Department personnel to a local hospital.  Axon BWCs record timestamps in Zulu time, therefore, all times mentioned in this press release will be behind by eight hours.

All video being released from this incident has been redacted to ensure the confidentiality and privacy of those involved. The faces have been blurred and audio redactions are signified by muted audio with no accompanying sound.

Officer 1’s contact with the subject begins at 6:44 p.m. Officer 1’s video begins at the initial contact with the subject.  After several minutes, the officer moves to detain the subject, and a physical altercation ensues.  Officer 1 attempts to place the subject in a control hold to place him into handcuffs.  The subject physically resists the officer, and the officer ends up on the ground with the subject.  The altercation causes Officer 1’s BWC to switch off momentarily.  Officer 1 reactivates the BWC and captures the rest of the altercation, which is shown in the second video that is associated with Officer 1. 

At 7:51 p.m. and 14 seconds, the dog bites Officer 1 on his left arm.  At 7:51 p.m. and 37 seconds Officer 1 advises that there was an aggressive dog on scene, via radio, to the responding officers.  Officer 1 continues to struggle with the subject to take him into custody until Officers 2 and 3 arrive.  Officer 2 arrives on scene and assists Officer 1 with controlling the subject.  The dog lunges at Officer 2, and Officer 2 discharges their firearm once at the dog.

****Below are snapshots from Officer 1’s BWC video showing the dog biting Officer 1’s arm.

Per Sacramento Police Department General Order 580.02 an officer may discharge their firearm, “to stop a dangerous animal that poses an imminent risk of death or serious bodily injury to a person.”

Please follow the link below to view the Sacramento Police Department General Order on use of force:

https://www.cityofsacramento.org/-/media/Corporate/Files/Police/Transparency/GO-58002-Use-of-Force-91819.pdf?la=en

This incident falls under the City Council policy on Police Use of Force. These four videos being released today have been identified as significant to this incident. The remainder of video and audio related to this incident will be released in the near future. The Sacramento Police Department is releasing this material to provide information quickly to our community.

This investigation is still active.  Additional details will be released as the investigation continues.

The material is now available to the media and our citizens through the YouTube link below.  These links will also be posted on our Department’s website, Facebook page and Twitter account (@sacpolice ).

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLR0Wtq8JGPQbTE0SBJwgP9TpfodxbTV0f