Sacramento Police Department releases videos of officer-involved shooting from earlier in February

On Friday the Sacramento Police Department released several videos of an incident involving Sacramento police officers and a carjacking suspect.

The car was stolen on February 8 from the driveway of a home on Stanford Avenue. The vehicle owner attempted to stop the suspect. On February 9 a Sacramento police officer located the stolen vehicle parked with the suspect inside. After refusing to exit the car and attempting to start the vehicle, the officer tased the suspect unsuccessfully.

Additional officers arrived on the scene as the suspect attempted to drive away. One officer was struck by the suspect vehicle as he tried to exit his police vehicle and suffered minor injuries. Two officers then opened fire on the suspect in the vehicle as he drove away, hitting him one time. The suspect then drove away eventually abandoning the vehicle and going to the hospital where officers arrested him.

Officer-Involved Shooting Video Release – Cantalier Street & Baseball Alley

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To provide information quickly to our community, the Sacramento Police Department is releasing pertinent audio and video files from the February 9th officer-involved shooting that occurred near Cantalier Street and Baseball Alley.

This content consists of one narrated video, three body-worn camera videos, and one in-car camera video. The videos begin when Sacramento Police Department officers contact a carjacking victim and concludes when officers begin to provide medical aid to an injured officer.

All materials being released from this incident have been redacted to ensure the confidentiality and privacy of those involved. Faces have been blurred, and audio redactions are signified by redacted audio.

Below is a summary of events known to us at this time:

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 and the vehicle’s license plate was entered into a police database.

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 individual inside it who was later identified as Clayton Freeman. The officer gave the suspect numerous commands, but the suspect refused to follow them. As the suspect continued to ignore commands, he gained access to the driver side area and started the vehicle. The officer utilized a Conducted Energy Device (Taser) multiple times in an attempt to take him into custody, but it was ineffective.

As this struggle was occurring, a second officer arrived on scene. As the second officer exited his patrol vehicle to assist the first officer, the suspect gained control of the carjacked vehicle and accelerated forward. The suspect drove the vehicle into the second officer and his patrol vehicle.

A third officer and her partner arrived on scene to assist the first two officers. The suspect then rammed a second patrol vehicle. Immediately after, the suspect reversed and struck the second officer’s patrol vehicle again. At this time, two officers on scene 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 injured officer was later transported to an area hospital. He was treated and released for a leg injury.

On February 13, 2023, after receiving medical clearance, Freeman was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail for assault on a peace officer (California Penal Code Section 245(C)) and carjacking (California Penal Code Section 215(A)).

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 from the original officer-involved shooting occurrence date. 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.

Link for YouTube playlist of videos

Sacramento Police Department

Charges against Freeman