SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT News Release
		Release #07-29-03 July 29, 2003 For Immediate Release
						Media Office 916-433-0808  Capt. Sam Somers Sgt. Justin Risley, PIO PIC Audrey Lee     Internet: www.sacpd.org

On Monday, July 28, 2003, at approximately 9:01 p.m., the Sacramento Police Department responded to a 911 call at 3915 Ginko Way.  The resident at that location indicated that a neighbor had forced his way into his residence, appeared to be high on drugs saying “people are after me,” and was breaking furniture.  Fearing for the safety of his wife and nine-year old son, the resident armed himself with a handgun waited for the Police Department to arrive.

Sacramento Police officers arrived and could hear noises from inside the residence.  The officers announced their presence and entered the residence at 3915 Ginko Way.  They located the suspect just inside, holding a folding chair, and pacing back and forth.  Due to the nature of the call and the suspects irrational behavior, the suspect was immediately handcuffed. The suspect was escorted to a marked police vehicle and would not enter the vehicle.  The suspect acting paranoid told the officers that he was fearful of someone being inside and refused to get in.  A third officer arrived and assisted placing the suspect into the vehicle. The suspect then began kicking the windows of the vehicle.   Due to this behavior the officers restrained the suspect’s feet in a department approved manner  to minimize his movements to prevent escape and injury, while he was seated in the police vehicle.

The officers proceeded to investigate the incident, speaking with the residents who made the 911 call and checking the suspect’s residence at 3912 Ginko Way to ensure there were no additional victims.  According to witnesses, the suspect continued to talk incoherently while in the vehicle as one of the officers was speaking with the victims.  The officer speaking with the victims checked the suspect’s welfare after a few minutes, at which time the suspect appeared unresponsive.  The officers immediately removed the suspect from the rear seat and checked his vitals.  Unable to find a pulse and realizing he was not breathing, the officers immediately called for fire and ambulance and began to perform CPR until relieved by medical personnel.  The suspect was transported to a local area hospital where he later expired.

The Sacramento Police Department had responded six times in the past four months to the suspect’s residence or a neighbor’s residence regarding the suspect hallucinating and creating a disturbance.  One of the calls resulted in the arrest of the suspect for possession of narcotics.  Most recently on July 27, 2003,  the suspect was placed on a 5150 W.I. hold after he parked his vehicle in a neighbor’s garage and chased the homeowner.   The suspect was acting irrational and admitted to the responding officer that he was hallucinating.   The officer placed him on the hold as he believed the suspect was a danger to himself and others.

The deceased has been identified as Dwayne Harris, African American male, DOB 09/13/59. The autopsy is pending at this time and further developments will be forwarded via a press release.

In accordance with department procedures, the circumstances surrounding this incident will be investigated by the Department’s Homicide Assault Unit and Internal Affairs Division, the Office of Police Accountability, and the Sacramento District Attorney’s Office.   As a matter of policy, the three officers involved will be placed on paid administrative leave.