People v. O'Deal CA3

BACKGROUND

The Crimes On February 24, 2013, at approximately 11:30 a.m., Sacramento Police Sergeant Paul Freeman was in his patrol car when he saw a white BMW make a right turn at an intersection without stopping at the stop sign. He followed the BMW, activated his light, and chirped the siren, but the BMW accelerated to 40 miles per hour in a 25-mile-per- hour zone. Sergeant Freeman could not see the driver. Sergeant Freeman activated the patrol car’s overhead lights and sirens and pursued the BMW through the residential neighborhood. The BMW accelerated to 50 miles per hour. It crossed into the opposite lane of traffic and ran a stop sign while turning left. The BMW ran a red light and turned onto Natomas Boulevard. The BMW weaved around the moderate traffic at about 90 miles per hour. Sergeant Freeman reduced his speed when he approached a signal light, as he could not keep pace with the BMW. The BMW swerved into the right turn lane and drove through the intersection. The driver soon lost control of the BMW, which spun 180 degrees and crashed, ending up facing north in a southbound lanes. Sergeant Freeman stopped the patrol car and focused on the driver’s side door of the BMW.…