Sheriff Releases 'Extremely Troubling' Body-Worn Camera Footage

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — What would become the final few moments of a Petaluma man's life are portrayed in body-worn camera footage released Friday by the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office. David Glen Ward, 52, died Nov. 27 when a vehicle pursuit ended in a physical struggle with peace officers.

Sonoma County Sheriff Mark Essick says in the video that of six sheriff's deputies and two Sebastopol police officers involved in the incident, he found the actions of Deputy Charlie Blount "extremely troubling."

Blount, a 21-year veteran of law enforcement, has been served a notice of termination and is on administrative leave while the fatal incident is investigated, Essick said.

"Critical Incident"

At 5:41 a.m. Nov. 27, sheriff's deputies and Sebastopol police officers were alerted by the Santa Rosa Police Department that a car reported stolen in a carjacking was on the move.

It would later be determined the car belonged to Ward. He'd reported it stolen Nov. 24 but did not follow-up with law enforcement to let them know he had it back, sheriff's officials say. Further, the sheriff's office is seeking charges against a man who worked as a caretaker for Ward.

The morning of Nov. 27, Ward initially pulled over but then drove off.

The 7-minute chase reached speeds up to 70 mph before coming to a close on Sutton Street, a dead-end road in Bloomfield, when deputies boxed in Ward's car.

Blount arrived on scene, joining Deputy Jason Little who was involved in the pursuit.

As deputies and officers tried to remove Ward from the car, he was uncooperative and bit two of the deputies, according to the sheriff's office.

The video shows Ward being shot with a Taser when he refused to get out of the car, but at one point in the video, Ward is heard saying he will comply.

About 9 minutes into the video, Blount is seen slamming Ward's head against the side of the car during the struggle to remove him from the Honda.

Blount applies the carotid hold around Ward's neck to pull him out of the car. Ward is removed, put on the ground and handcuffed.

He is unconscious but breathing at first but when a deputy realizes he has stopped breathing he begins CPR and medical personnel are summoned.

Ward is taken by ambulance around 6:20 a.m. to Petaluma Valley Hospital where he is pronounced dead at 7:17 a.m., according to Santa Rosa police who are investigating the death.

Essick said Blount will remain on leave until the investigation of the death is completed and all potential appeals have taken place.

"This one person does not reflect the culture of the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office and does not represent the hard work of the men and women who work here," Essick said.

An attorney for Blount sent a statement Friday in response to the video.

"Deputy Blount didn’t cause David Ward’s death," said Harry Stern, of the Rains Lucia Stern law firm in San Francisco. "Frankly, Mr. Ward caused his own death by inexplicably taking a number of bizarre actions that confirmed in the deputies’ minds that he was an armed carjacker, rather than the victim of that crime.

"It is my understanding that the medical evidence will show that Mr. Ward died from a serious pre-existing condition and had methamphetamine in his system---most significantly, there were no indications of trauma to his neck.

"I am extremely disappointed in Sheriff Essick’s reaction to this unfortunate incident. I view his hasty decision as a product of panic, political expediency and hindsight. Charlie Blount has served the people of Sonoma County for over 20 years and honorably served in the military for 20 years before that. His actions during this arrest were entirely reasonable under the circumstances known, keeping in mind that videos of uses of force, even when justified, are often upsetting and graphic."

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Man Dies In Custody After Pursuit In Sonoma County
• Driver Who Died After Sonoma County Chase ID'd As Petaluma Man
• Petaluma Man Who Died After Chase Was Registered Owner Of Car: PD
• Caregiver Accused Of Beating Man Who Then Died In Sheriff Custody
• Caregiver Accused Of Violent Carjacking Released From Jail

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.