UNION CITY, Calif. – BART police released body camera video of a confrontation in the parking lot of the Union City Station where an officer fired at a woman as she drove off while officers tried to get her out of the car.
Jasmine Gao, 32, was wounded in the shooting that occurred around 9 p.m. on Nov. 18 in the parking lot of the Union City BART station.
Officer Nicholas Poblete and his partner stopped Gao after receiving a report of reckless driving. A station agent made the report, alleging a car was performing donuts in the parking lot.
Body camera footage showed officers contacting Gao, who was behind the wheel of a Chevy Malibu. Videos showed Poblete and his partner speaking with Gao about the report, and she is heard saying, “I don’t know how to do donuts.”
Poblete’s partner examines the tires on Gao’s car and is heard saying, “tires are good… not hot.”
After the officers seemingly determined that Gao was not doing donuts in the parking lot, they were preparing to let her go. However, Poblete said his dispatcher had informed them that her vehicle registration was expired.
The situation intensified from there.
Poblete asked Gao for her license, registration, and proof of insurance. However, she only produced an identification card from Massachusetts.
Gao appears to become argumentative with Poblete as he questions where her California-issued driver’s license is and why she does not have valid registration or insurance. The woman appears to interrupt the officer several times as he attempts to explain state law regarding operating a vehicle.
While Poblete was holding the woman’s ID and standing at her driver’s side door with his hands on the window seal, Gao snatched her ID from the officer.
“I dont want you to have my ID. Don’t touch my hand,” Gao says as Poblete and his partner attempt to get her out of the car, asking her repeatedly to comply.
At one point, Poblete warns, “Ma’am, I’m going to pepper spray you.” Gao refuses to get out of the car and says, “Stop, you’re scaring me.”
Gao is heard starting the car’s ignition, with Poblete’s left arm still in her window. The officer is heard saying, “Ma’am, I’m gonna sh—” as the woman drives off.
Poblete appears to pull his gun with his right hand and fires three times as Gao drives away. Her vehicle eventually rolls to a stop, and she gets out of the car, saying, “Please help me. Oh my God, what did you do? What did you do to me?”
Poblete tells the woman that he and his partner want to render aid and says, “You were dragging us.”
BART said in a press release on Thursday, “When the officers asked her multiple times to exit her vehicle she did not comply. While an officer was reaching inside the car, Ms. Gao rolled up the window and accelerated forward.”
It’s unclear based on the video which window, if any, Gao rolled up.
However, Poblete’s partner is heard on video explaining to a first responder that the officer’s “arm was in the vehicle and she pulled off.”
Gao sustained a gunshot wound to the chest. She survived her injuries and was later discharged.
The case was sent to the district attorney’s office.
Poblete, a BART officer for over six years, was placed on administrative leave.
