From Sfchronicle · · 1m
Video shows S.F. officer contact before scooter death
San Francisco police officer made physical contact with man fleeing on scooter before fatal crash.
In brief
San Francisco police officer made physical contact with man fleeing on scooter before fatal crash. San Francisco officer physically contacted 56-year-old Edwin Adams during chase on Oct. 12, leading to his death. Originally reported by Sfchronicle.
Newly released video
Video shows San Francisco officer making physical contact with man fleeing on scooter before fatal crash.
“Moments before a man fleeing San Francisco police on a scooter fatally crashed last month, an officer made physical contact with him in an apparent effort to stop him”
Officer contact during chase
Officer rushed toward Adams, attempting to grab him, then fell to ground as Adams remained on scooter.
“The officer rushed toward Adams, apparently attempting to grab him, and made contact with him. Then the officer fell to the ground and Adams remained on his scooter, headed into the curb”
Adams' legal status
Adams had warrant for arrest after failing to charge GPS ankle monitor, released from jail.
“Adams had a warrant out for his arrest. The public defender’s office, which represented him, said the warrant was issued after he failed to charge a GPS ankle monitor that allowed his release from jail in a pending case”
Crash details
Adams crashed near bus stop after officer contact, later died at hospital.
“What happened next was obscured by a pursuing police vehicle, but the video showed Adams crashing near a bus stop. The clip ended with Adams laid out on the sidewalk. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital, according to police”
Police statement
Police said wanted man fled on scooter and collided with street fixture, not officer contact.
“On the day of the crash, the police department released a statement saying a wanted man had "fled on a scooter. The suspect then collided with a street fixture and suffered injury." The department did not mention that an officer had made contact with Adams”
Public defender complaint
Public defender alleges officers violated policy and used excessive force, killing Adams.
“The public defender’s office alleged that the officers "engaged in a pursuit in violation of department policy, and one officer used excessive force on the suspect, killing him."”
Police response
Police chief said incident triggered use-of-force investigation by district attorney.
“Police Chief Derrick Lew also did not describe any such contact at a Police Commission meeting two days later, but said the incident triggered a use-of-force investigation by the district attorney’s office”
What it means
San Francisco officer physically contacted 56-year-old Edwin Adams during chase on Oct. 12, leading to his death.
