Sacramento arrest:
Ste’Vante Clark, held for alleged threats, 911 call
The older brother of Stephon Clark, an unarmed African American man gunned down last month by Sacramento police in his grandparent’s backyard, was arrested Thursday for allegedly threatening to kill or seriously injure someone, according to jail records.
Ste’Vante Clark, 25, was also being held on charges for calling 911 with the intent to annoy or harass. He was booked at 12:10 p.m. into the Sacramento County Jail without bail due to the seriousness of the alleged crime, and he is scheduled to appear in court 1:30 p.m. Friday.
The fatal shooting of his younger brother, Stephon Clark, on March 18 by Sacramento police ignited protests across the city and other parts of the nation, bringing renewed attention to police use of force and the killing of African American men.
Sacramento police said two officers mistook a cell phone Stephon Clark was holding in his hand for a firearm before they fired 20 rounds, striking him eight times. A private autopsy commissioned by the family determined Stephon Clark was hit from behind by six of the eight bullets.
After the shooting, Ste’Vante Clark became one of the key figures in leading protests across the city of Sacramento and marches that shut down streets and freeways. Similar actions delayed or stopped some Sacramento Kings fans from entering games at Golden 1 Center downtown.
In one protest, Ste’Vante Clark entered a Sacramento City Council meeting and climbed on to the dais to confront Mayor Darrell Steinberg, who described the moment as “the most raw expression of emotion.”
Ste’Vante Clark has received public criticism for his behavior during City Council meetings and his brother’s funeral. In an interview with CBS in April, he said he received mental health treatment at UC Davis Medical Center and that he was embarrassed by his recent actions.
“I hate my life,” he said in the interview. “Something is very wrong up there; I can admit that, but I’m not out here doing crazy, stupid belligerent things. I’m trying to take care of my family.”
At a public rally for Stephon Clark in March, family members said Ste’Vante Clark was having a difficult time dealing with the pain of losing his younger brother.
According to a story by Capital Public Radio, family friend Jamilia Land said Ste’Vante Clark was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. A funeral for Stephon Clark featured his grieving older brother taking a microphone and leading chants in between moments of anguish.
Amid calls for the two officers who shot and killed Stephon Clark to be charged with crimes, Sacramento city police and the Sacramento County district attorney’s office announced that the office of Xavier Becerra, California’s attorney general, would oversee an independent review of the investigation into the shooting while also reviewing police policies and procedures.
Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani