By Matt Kawahara
mkawahara@sacbee.com
A Twin Rivers Police Department officer shot a man this afternoon who reached behind his back multiple times during a chase in north Sacramento, a police spokesman said.
The officer shot the man three times, but the wounds were believed to be non-life threatening, said Twin Rivers police spokesman William Cho.
The shooting took place in the 1300 block of Nogales Street.
Cho gave this account of events:
About 1:20 p.m., a Twin Rivers officer on routine patrol near Grant High School saw a suspicious man on a bicycle.
The officer attempted to contact the man, later identified as Richard Sazo, age 28 or 29. Sazo moved his hand behind his back toward his waistband as if reaching for something.
The officer told him to show his hands and get off his bike. Sazo got off the bicycle, but he then got back on the bike and started a short chase, with the officer following on foot, yelling, "Stop!" "Police!"
During that chase, the officer used a stun gun on Sazo and he lost control of the bike, but kept moving. The officer shot Sazo with the stun gun again, finally stopping him.
Sazo faced the officer and verbally challenged him. Sazo reached again behind his back toward his waistband.
The officer then drew his service weapon and shot Sazo three times, wounding him in a hand, his left leg and right shoulder.
Sazo was taken to a local hospital.
No weapon was found on Sazo, who police identified as a parolee.
The officer is a four-year veteran.
Once released from the hospital, Sazo will be booked on suspicion of various charges including resisting arrest and assault on a peace officer.
The Twin Rivers Police Department provides police services for the Twin Rivers Unified School District and several other school districts.
The department has 18 full-time officers.
Call The Bee's Matt Kawahara, (916) 321-1015.
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