DETAILS FROM THE SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
On February 8, 2023, a carjacking occurred in the 100 block of Stanford Avenue in north Sacramento. During this incident, the victim stated that a masked suspect forcibly stole their vehicle and fled the area. A crime report was taken following the carjacking.
On February 9, 2023, at approximately 9:42 a.m., a Sacramento Police Department patrol officer located the victim's carjacked vehicle parked near Cantalier Street & Baseball Alley. The officer approached the vehicle and located one suspect inside it. The officer gave the suspect many commands to comply with his orders, but the suspect remained non-compliant throughout the contact. As the suspect continued to ignore commands, the officer utilized a Conducted Energy Device (Taser) multiple times in an attempt to take him into custody, but it was ineffective.
Additional officers arrived on the scene to assist in detaining the suspect. As the struggle continued, the suspect began driving away with the initial contacting officer still in the vehicle's door frame. As the suspect fled, he struck another officer and his vehicle, resulting in injuries to that officer's leg. That officer was later transported to an area hospital, treated, and released.
The suspect then rammed a second patrol vehicle. Immediately after, the suspect reversed and, for a third time, struck a police vehicle. An officer-involved shooting then occurred; two officers discharged their duty firearms striking the suspect at least one time. The suspect fled the scene in the carjacked vehicle which was later located in the 500 Block of Las Palmas Avenue. The suspect arrived at an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and was subsequently taken into custody by responding officers.
The suspect was identified as 32-year-old Clayton Freeman. Freeman will be booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on related charges once he is medically cleared.
This incident is being investigated by the Sacramento Police Department's Internal Affairs Division and Professional Standards Unit. Additionally, the Sacramento Police Department's Force Investigation Team will investigate this incident. The investigation will focus on policy, tactics, and training regarding the use of force.
This incident falls under the Sacramento City Council's policy on Police Use of Force and California law regarding the release of police records. The Sacramento Police Department will release full video and audio files related to this incident to the public within 30 days. Detectives are in the process of identifying and retrieving videos associated with this incident. The Office of Public Safety Accountability and the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office are providing oversight by monitoring the investigation.
The Sacramento Police Department encourages any witnesses with information regarding this incident to contact the dispatch center at (916) 264-5471 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP (4357). Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward up to $1,000. Anonymous tips can also be submitted using the free "P3 Tips" smartphone app.
