FROM OFFICE. AND OF COURSE HE’LL HAVE HIS TWEETS AND
TIME WITH FAMILY AND
FRIENDS FOR CHRISTMAS.
JOSE?
>> KELLY O’DONNELL IN
WEST PALM BEACH, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
>>> A CALIFORNIA
SHERIFF’S DEPUTY IS
OFF THE JOB TONIGHT ON
LEAVE FOR WHAT HIS
BOSS CALLS AN
EXTREMELY TROUBLING
INCIDENT.
NEWLY RELEASED BODYCAM
VIDEO SHOWS A DEADLY
ENCOUNTER BETWEEN THE
DEPUTY AND A DISABLED
MAN DURING A TRAFFIC
STOP.
SARAH HARMAN HAS
DETAILS.
A NOTE, THIS VIDEO IS
DISTURBING.
>> WE’RE IN THE 11000
BLOCK OF SUTTON.
>> Reporter: IT BEGAN
WITH THE REPORT OF A
STOLEN CAR.
DEPUTIES IN PURSUIT OF
A VEHICLE REPORTED
MISSING IN A
CARJACKING.
>> SHOW ME YOUR
[ MUTED ] HANDS.
TURN OFF THE [ MUTED ]
CAR.
>> Reporter: WHAT THEY
DIDN’T KNOW, THE
DRIVER, 52-YEAR-OLD
DAVID GLENN WARD, WAS
THE CAR’S OWNER.
>> GET YOUR HANDS UP!
>> Reporter: IN A
VIDEO OF THE STUNNING
CONFRONT IGS RELEASED
BY THE SONOMA COUNTY
SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
DEPUTY CHARLES BLOUNT
CAN BE SEEN
APPROACHING THE
VEHICLE.
>> GET OUT OF THE CAR.
>> ALL RIGHT, I’M
GETTING OUT.
>> Reporter: THE
DRIVER, WHO IS
PHYSICALLY DISABLED,
STRUGGLED TO EXIT THE
CAR.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
DRAGGING HIM THROUGH
THE WINDOW.
>> AH!
MY LEGS!
>> Reporter: THEN
TASING HIM.
POLICE SAY DEPUTY
BLOUNT ATTEMPTED A
CAROTID HOLD, A
CONTROVERSIAL MOVE
DESIGNED TO CUT OFF
BLOOD TO THE BRAIN.
WARD BECAME
UNRESPONSIVE.
>> WE NEED MEDICAL,
MAN.
GET MEDICAL.
>> Reporter: AS IT
BECAME CLEAR WARD WAS
THE VICTIM, NOT THE
CARJACKER.
HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO
A LOCAL HOSPITAL AND
PRONOUNCED DEAD.
TONIGHT SHERIFF MARK
ESSEX SAYS HE PLANS TO
FIRE DEPUTY BLOUNT, A
19-YEAR VETERAN OF THE
FORCE.
A LAWYER FOR BLOUNT
DEFENDING HIS ACTIONS
TELLING NBC IN A
STATEMENT, "DEPUTY
BLOUNT DIDN’T CAUSE
DAVID WARD’S DEATH.
FRANKLY, MR. WARD
CAUSED HIS OWN DEATH
BY INEXPLICABLY TAKING
A NUMBER OF BIZARRE
ACTIONS."
ALLEGING HE HAD A
SERIOUS PRE-EXISTING
CONDITION AND
METHAMPHETAMINE IN HIS
SYSTEM AND THERE WERE
NO INDICATIONS OF
TRAUMA TO HIS NECK.
>> Reporter: AFTER
SHOCKING FOOTAGE
LEAVES A COMMUNITY
DEMANDING ANSWERS.
>> WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
>> Reporter:
INVESTIGATION IS
CURRENTLY UNDER WAY.
AND OFFICER BLOUNT IS
ON ADMINISTRATIVE
LEAVE.
HIS ATTORNEY TELLS NBC
NEWS HE HAS NOT BEEN