Disabled man who fled CA cops died after being put in chokehold, a new video shows
California police released a video on Friday showing the fatal encounter between officers and 52-year-old David Glen Ward.
After officers pulled Ward through his car window, a deputy sheriff slammed Ward’s head onto the car and put him in a chokehold. Police had mistakenly thought Ward was stealing the car.
Ward died later at the hospital on Nov. 27, according to NBC News.
Sonoma County Sheriff Mark Essick confirmed that Deputy Charles Blount will be fired, according to the video.
“The way Deputy Blount handles the entire situation is extremely troubling,” Essick said in the video. “As a result, I have served Deputy Blount with a notice of termination. He has been on administrative leave since this incident occurred and he will remain on leave until the conclusion of this investigation and all potential appeals have taken place.”
Ward had reported his car stolen by a man who “pistol-whipped” him, but didn’t tell police that he had gotten it back. Three days after making the report, authorities got a call that his car had been spotted, The Associated Press reported.
Ward was pulled over by officers but didn’t tell them that he owned the car. He then refused to stop and fled the scene, according to the AP.
The video shows the deputies ordering Ward to put his hands up. Ward had “visible injuries on his face from the violent carjacking days earlier,” according to CBS San Francisco. He had trouble unlocking his door.
“I can’t believe this, I’m the injured party,” Ward told Blount.
Blount tried pulling Ward out of the car through the driver’s window, but Ward’s leg was stuck under the wheel. Ward then bit Blount and was tasered twice by another officer. Ward’s head was then slammed against the door and Blount put him in a chokehold. After Ward was unconscious, the officers pulled him through the window, placed him on the ground and handcuffed him. They attempted CPR.
Ward’s family told Kron5 that Ward was disabled “from a car accident that happened 15 years ago” and that he wasn’t able to get out of the car.
Blount’s attorney, Harry Stern, said the sheriff was driven by “panic, political expediency and hindsight” and that he was “extremely disappointed” in the decision, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
“Charlie Blount has served the people of Sonoma County for over 20 years and honorably served in the military for 20 years before that,” he said. “His actions during this arrest were entirely reasonable.”