Video shows Sacramento sheriff’s vehicle hitting woman during Stephon Clark protest and driving away, probe underway
A Sacramento sheriff's vehicle reportedly hit a demonstrator attending a candlelight vigil of the slain Stephon Clark on early Saturday in the city. A video of the incident showed the vehicle driving away after the incident as protesters rallied in the streets demanding justice for the 22-year-old, according to reports.
Two police officers from Sacramento Police Department fired at least 20 rounds at Clark and killed him on March 18. Reports state that officers were looking for a suspect in the Meadowview neighborhood and found the 22-year-old African American standing on his grandmother's front lawn and believed that he was the suspect.
Clark reportedly ran from the police officers and was shot multiple times after the officers believed that he had pointed a gun at them. The young man was later found to be unarmed and only had his cell phone on his person, according to reports.
Local activist, Wanda Cleveland, was reportedly demonstrating against police shootings when she was hit by the Sacramento police vehicle, according to reports. She was released from the hospital on early Sunday morning with bruises on her arm and back of the head, Sacramento Bee reported.
The activist told Bee that the patrol vehicle was accelerating and "never even stipped" before hitting her knee as she fell to the ground.
"It was a hit and run. If I did that, I'd be charged. It's disregard for human life," Cleveland, who regularly attends Sacramento City Council meetings, said.
While the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department also released a statement on Sunday, saying: "the collision occurred while the patrol vehicle was traveling at slow speeds." The statement also added that the woman involved in the incident suffered minor injuries, reports state.
The Sheriff Department's spokesperson, Sgt. Shaun Hampton, also released a statement saying that the vehicle had scratches, dents and shattered rear window caused by "vandals in the crowd."
The spokesperson added that the California Highway Patrol is probing the incident and the Sheriff's Department has also initiated an internal review of the incident.
A private autopsy results released by Clark's family on Friday stated that the 22-year-old was shot six times in the back and eight times in total by Sacramento police officers.
The autopsy noted that there were no bullet entries from the front and most of the shots were fired at his back. The review concluded that Clark was facing a house with his left side to officers when they shot him, the first round of bullets hit him in the left side under the arm. It added that the force of the bullet spun him around with his back to officers, and then six rounds penetrated his back moving in a forward tractory, the legal team of Clark's family said.
The case has drawn huge attention with protests breaking out in the region against rampant killings of black men by police officers. Hundreds of protesters rallied on Thursday, demanding justice for Clark.