Commission on Human Rights statement on the death of David Ward
The Commission on Human Rights would like to express not only our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of David Ward, but additionally include our solidarity in seeking justice for the wrongful killing of Mr. Ward. As reported by the Press Democrat on February 2, 2022, jurors found Sonoma County Sheriff’s Deputy Charles Blount not guilty of involuntary manslaughter and assault by a Peace Officer. Blount has been acquitted from all charges.
We as a Commission wish to re-emphasize the integrity of every human life that must be protected. In the case against Deputy Blount, this commitment to protect the community was not upheld as his actions on November 27, 2019 resulting in the killing of Mr. Ward and captured on bodycam footage. However, the jury ultimately decided that Blount’s decisions were “reasonable and lawful” given he had reasonable suspicion that Ward was involved in a carjacking where it was later learned that Ward who’d reported the car stolen days before but not told authorities after he’d reclaimed it.
A case of a stolen car should never end in a suspect’s death. And the fact that the victim’s past drug use was held as judgment against him and the Plaintiff’s plea to admit evidence of Deputy Blount’s history of past use of excessive force as well as lying under oath was refused. We believe that the Scales of Justice have been and continue to be tipped inappropriately in cases of excessive force, brutality and wrongful death perpetrated by police in Sonoma County.
— Katrina Phillips
2 thoughts on “Commission on Human Rights statement on the death of David Ward”
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I am the mother of Celeste Moon, the victim of Blount’s choke hold and body flip in 2015 for jaywalking. Celeste was distraught at that time because she’d just lost custody of her 10-year old daughter because she is disabled (crippled back, almost blind, with very thick glasses). She is small, 5-4, 135 lbs. She just freaked, it happened so fast, and she ran because she had PTSD from her former boyfriend, who was physically abusive. She had a 150 IQ, straight A’s through college, a good job, and nice apt. there, but ended up living in her car the last 2+ (?) years because Blount cost her everything. She retained atty. Izaak Schwaiger, who blew her off for a more lucrative case ($$) and didn’t tell her to see another atty. (gross Malpractice). She was too brain-damaged to figure that out herself at that time. She got NO settlement, so her testimony was very valuable to the DA when she is asked if she was paid for her statements. After Blount’s assault, she gave up and went under. She has been officially “missing,” and the DA couldn’t find her to testify. She speaks to no one, never answer my emails or phone calls, is basically so depressed, hopeless, and brain damaged she is barely alive. He killed me too that day. I wake up every morning not knowing if she’s dead or alive. I comb the P-D every morning looking for her name.
I will NEVER understand why that jury acquitted Blount. Stern called MY DAUGHTER’s severe, permanent assault “an irrelevant non-event.” SHE MATTERED. I don’t see how they can look in the mirror.
Thank you for sharing that.