Body camera footage from two policemen who were involved in a traffic stop in November at the Union City station parking lot, where one of them shot and injured the lady they pulled over, was made public by BART police on Friday.
Camera footage from both police who stopped 32-year-old Jasmine Gaoat at around 9:30 p.m. on November 18 after Officer Nicholas Poblete shot her in the torso as she seemed to attempt to flee is seen in the roughly 49-minute video.
Poblete informed Gao during their first encounter that her automobile fit the description of a car that was allegedly making doughnuts in the parking lot. The statement seemed to baffle Gao, who inquired as to if anyone was eating doughnuts before claiming she wasn’t a skilled enough driver to execute the illegal maneuver.
After checking Gao’s front left tire with his hand, the second officer who attended to the call alongside Poblete but whose identity was withheld said, “Yeah, it’s not hot.”
The officers then seemed prepared to send Gao off, but Poblete recalled that he had been informed by someone in dispatch that her registration had reportedly expired.
Then, as Gao seemed to become more agitated, the cops attempted to get her to show them her license, registration, and proof of insurance for a few minutes.
Poblete urged her to get out of the car after Gao implored the officers not to frighten her, saying she was “freaking out.”
“It’s because you’re cops, you’re cops and I’m just in a parking lot,” Gao said.
After she grabbed her license from Poblete’s hand, both cops rushed into the vehicle to attempt to free her, but she kept saying, “No.”
Before long, she seemed to drive away while rolling up her window, with least one officer’s arm still inside.
Gao’s automobile drifted to a stop a short distance away as Poblete fired three shots at once. She began to bleed heavily from at least one gunshot wound to the upper torso as the officers removed her from the vehicle and placed her in handcuffs.
According to BART officials, paramedics quickly came to provide assistance and took her to a hospital, where she received treatment before being released.
Neither officer suffered any injuries.
Poblete, who has worked for BART police for almost six years, is on administrative leave and the matter has been forwarded to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.
In a news statement on Friday, BART Police Chief Kevin Franklin stated, “Due to the seriousness of this incident, we have retained an experienced third-party investigator to conduct the internal administrative investigation to ensure an unbiased and objective review.”
When asked if Gao has been charged with a crime, representatives for the District Attorney’s Office and BART police did not answer.
According to jail records, she is not currently in detention in Alameda County.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.