“You’re not free to go away”: A San Jose police officer beat a jaywalking suspect who did not comply with his orders. Ought to he have walked away as a substitute?

Journalists from the Bay Space Information Group and the California Reporting Mission reviewed a sequence of instances involving violent confrontations between San Jose police and mentally impaired people. A lot of these instances elevate questions concerning the conduct of the division’s officers, who’ve been educated to keep away from the usage of power in such conditions. Learn our full report.

Case Research #2: William Wallace

THE SCENE: An almost empty Sunol Road close to the intersection with West San Carlos Road, on Could 26, 2021. San Jose Police Officer Barron Kim’s encounter with Wallace on this evening over a minor infraction — jaywalking — careened into violence. Ought to the officer have walked away moderately than confronting him?

Kim instantly suspected that Wallace’s “weird conduct” stemmed from psychological sickness or intoxication. When Kim knowledgeable Wallace of his intent to detain him, Wallace was defiant, cursing on the officer and pushing his bike in the direction of him as he walked away.

Kim responded with power, chasing Wallace down, pinning him to the bottom and punching the person a number of occasions within the face. Wallace fought again. He was left with a damaged nostril and a number of lacerations from the encounter.

After Wallace filed a criticism, San Jose’s Unbiased Police Auditor raised questions on why Kim confronted Wallace in any respect. The division reviewed the incident and exonerated Kim.