Hey, 10-7 rescue. I've been hit by a car. Shots fired. Uh we got someone down. >> All right, everybody. Welcome back. We got another video for you. This one comes from Code Blue Cam and it is man gets arrested then makes it a hundred times worse 15 days later. I haven't seen it. Let's go. >> Officers did [music] eventually catch this man, but they did not know that this would not be their last encounter with him. Soon they would come face to face [music] with him again and this time it would be far more lethal. Around 4:30 p.m. on the evening of April 11th, 2025, this Cranston police officer notices a white Nissan using the two-way left turn lane to pass another vehicle in the area of Reservoir Avenue in Rhode Island. But as he initiates [music] the traffic stop, he has no idea that this seemingly cooperative driver is about to pull a move that he does not anticipate. >> 10-4. >> Hey, I Look, I I get it, man. I I get it, man. >> He was He was literally in >> These drivers can be aggravating, but you can't you can't be using that to pass, all right? >> I was on the outside, but he was in my lane. >> I hear you. >> Like I'm >> You were just trying to make a left turn. He was just trying to >> Yeah, he he cut me >> He's trying to be a decent person and you to stop, you know? I just need your driver's license. >> Here we go, dude. Like the cops the cops being cool. He's just saying, "Hey, I get it, man. I get it." >> Uh this is a rental, by the way. >> It's a rental? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Is it a rental Is it in your name? >> Uh no, I can call the guy. It's just Nova. >> Can I just see it quick? >> Yeah. >> Take a peek into the back. You always wanted to you know, when they're when they reach to look at that, that's where our opportunity to kind of put [snorts] our head inside of the window, see if you can smell any alcohol, maybe marijuana, or take a peek into the backseat, see if there's anything in the backseat. It kind of helps us put the story together, too. Like if he says it's a rental, but then the car is trashed, it's probably, you know, something's up. Um you would expect a rental car to be really clean or uh or nothing on the backseat. You still live on uh >> Yes. Okay. Uh can I just call him cuz I don't know exactly where it is. It's just uh >> I'm saying I'm not saying like is the rental like the car in your name? I'm saying the rental agreement, did you go over it with >> yeah, yeah, it's in my name. Rental agreement's in my name. >> You don't have the paperwork for that? They like it should be with your receipt or something. >> No, cuz uh it was uh so this is him right here. >> Okay. >> This is this is like I paid with Cash App. >> What's the rental company? >> Nova. Let's see. I can actually I can call him right now. >> No, that's cool, man. Don't worry about it. >> Uh it's Nova something. Uh I just got this a couple days >> your driver's license? >> Oh, good. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's not suspended or anything. >> Okay. No recent tickets or anything? >> No. >> You ever been in trouble? >> Yeah, I've I've done some time before, but >> For what? >> Uh I got I got caught um with a first-degree Well, it was a second-degree armed robbery. And then I got admitted to a first-degree armed robbery. That was in 2016. >> Okay, so there's no weapons in the car or anything today? >> no, no, no. >> Okay. All right. All right. >> Like I said, man, he was just in my lane and I >> Yeah. I hear you, man. >> He's being an [ __ ] I'm on my way to Providence. >> I got you. You're probably having a rough day. Traffic's a pain in the ass. >> Well, I'm going out tonight, so >> Yeah. Just give me 1 minute, okay? >> Maybe. >> The driver is 28-year-old Damien Peterson, and while he appears forthcoming with the information he shares about himself, the officer is about to discover that there is much more he has chosen not to reveal. As the officer runs Damien's name through the database, he quickly discovers a decade-long criminal history filled with frequent, though nonviolent, offenses ranging from property and theft crimes to financial fraud, substance-related violations, and harassment. But it is a file created by detectives within his own department [music] that a >> Interesting. So, they can see that they've created a jacket on him. And so, typically what you'll do is pick up the phone, call the detectives, and say, "Hey, what's up with this guy? Got him out on a traffic stop." >> immediately puts him on alert. Franson detectives had an active narcotics investigation involving Damian. And after gathering sufficient evidence of drug activity, an affidavit arrest warrant had already been signed and entered into the system. >> Can you confirm a warrant >> So, what they're saying is these guys put an investigation together for a drug investigation. They had gone to the court and got an actual warrant for his arrest for these charges that they're going to give him. So, basically, it's not like you show up to a domestic and then you arrest somebody and that's their charge. They're They put a case together on this guy. They got enough evidence. Now, they went, got the court to issue an arrest warrant. So, now he's going to confirm the warrant. >> for me? I want to press you on the charges. >> Can you spell his name? >> Now, as the officer asks for backup and steps back out to speak with [music] Damian, he doesn't know how desperately Damian doesn't want to go to jail. >> All right, you're not in trouble or anything. Just step out for me real quick. Just want to talk to you. >> Actually, he is in trouble, but >> So, we're going to talk to you real quick. You can leave your phone right there. >> And you'd be ticked off if you rented your car out like a Turo thing and some dude's smoking a cig in there, stinking it up. >> Just come to the back of the car. >> I think I'm being arrested. >> No, I I just want to talk to you quick. Yeah, just come right here. You don't have any weapons on you or anything, right? >> No, no, no. >> Okay, I'm just going to check quick. I won't even make you put the cigarette out, all right? What is this? >> Oh, man, those those are Bro, these are brass knuckles. >> Okay. >> Those those I I give you the right. >> So, he has brass knuckles in his front pocket. When you do a search like this, it's a Terry pat down. It's not designed you're not searching for anything. You're searching for weapons. Well, brass knuckles can be a weapon. So, this would give the ability for him to get those brass knuckles out or have them, you know, I don't know if you want him to remove them. Um but you're looking for guns, knives, brass knuckles. It's not something you typically come across, but this would be something you would do a search for. >> Wait, in this pocket right here? >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, but >> All right. >> A pat down, not a search. >> I literally got those from the storage unit. >> Okay. All right, man. Sit down and relax. >> I'm really I'm sorry. >> You can lean against the car. You got brass knuckles on you. >> I went to the storage unit today, my dad's storage unit. I can show you my phone, show you all the text messages. I had all my stuff. You know, I can pop my trunk and show you I have my clothes and stuff that was in my stuff. I was going to bring them home. I have not been home since. >> did you take it out of everything else and put it in your pocket? >> Because when I was at the storage unit, I put them in my pocket. >> Okay. >> But I'm not a violent person, bro. Like, honestly, they're they're clean. Like that's that's it. >> Yeah. >> I'm not a violent person. >> Okay. So, when I asked if you've ever been in trouble before, you've been in trouble quite a quite a decent amount. >> Like that's why I was telling you I had a first-degree robbery. >> Uh now he knows. Is there any any narcotics in the vehicle today? Okay. There's not even any in there? >> No, I don't smoke. >> Okay. >> I got out on parole time. I just got out a year ago. Like, I don't do anything. >> Okay. Is there no coke, no no anything? >> No, man. I don't do drugs. I don't do drugs. >> All right. >> I do not do drugs. >> And there's there's no knives or anything? >> No. That that that is I swear to God, I will show you my messages. I'll show you my stuff, man. I don't I don't >> Okay. >> I don't want to get in trouble, bro. I'll empty my pockets and my trunk right now. >> All right, just do me a favor and toss your cigarette. >> Yes. >> Just turn around real quick. >> All right, dude. >> Where does he think he's going to go? Who's screaming? Him? Oh my goodness. Does he play soccer? >> [laughter] [groaning] >> Shut up. Those people in traffic got a show. They're lucky they didn't get hit by a car. Lucky it's kind of thicker traffic. He's crying. >> [laughter] >> During a search of the vehicle, officers recovered a glass [music] pipe from the driver's side door storage compartment. They also discovered a hollowed-out vape containing clear plastic baggies. [music] One filled with a white powdery substance consistent with cocaine or fentanyl, and another containing a hard [music] broken-like substance consistent with methamphetamine. In addition, officers [music] located a small torch lighter and a digital kitchen scale inside the vehicle. Field tests conducted on the suspected narcotics using NARK [music] II test kits returned positive results. The substances were determined to be approximately 2.4 [music] g of fentanyl and 1.3 g of methamphetamine. >> This is it? >> Yes. >> What's the code? Why'd you run, man? >> Because I don't want to go to the jail, man. I have I have a little bit of drugs, man. I'm an addict. >> All right. You know you have a warrant. >> I thought he said he didn't do drugs. He's an addict. >> Well, you have a warrant. >> Um >> Can I just get your middle name? What does it say his name on this thing? It's going to be a top Damian. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Is that what you're on? Right after Right after >> The detectives haven't come down. So, what the detectives would probably do in a situation like this, you'll call them and say, "Hey, we just popped your dude on a traffic stop and he had his warrant." Which at this point with the warrant, they're ready to move forward with the case. So, it's not like you're just screwing up their case. So, you pop them for the warrant. He has drugs on him. So, now you're going to call the detectives. The detectives would probably say, "Bring him down to the station and we're going to interview him." Um this way they can unfold the rest of their case, too. So, that would be what I'm guessing it would be the protocol on this. >> Can I search his bag? >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> But while Damian is charged with drug possession offenses and [music] traffic violations on top of his active arrest warrant, officers have no idea that this will not be the end of his encounters with law enforcement. Before long, another group of officers will cross [music] paths with him and that encounter will have far deadlier consequences. Around 11:24 p.m. on April 26th, 2025, Johnston police officers respond to a Shell gas station on Hartford Avenue in Rhode Island for a reported disturbance involving a man and a woman. Upon arriving, officers immediately recognize the man [music] as Damian Peterson sitting inside a white sedan and quickly learn that he has an outstanding warrant. [music] Damien had posted bail following the incident just 15 days earlier. But given the active cases already pending against him, officers immediately go on alert. >> Still in somebody else's white rental car. >> As Damien watches the officers position themselves around him, they suspect he may try to flee and begin moving their cruisers to cut off any escape route. But what they do not realize is at this time Damien [music] will not stop at anything to protect himself. >> Guys, a vehicle can be a deadly weapon. A vehicle can absolutely injure and kill not just law enforcement officers but bystanders. So, the there is a That is absolutely justification for use of force. And this officer had no real where to go no place to go. He was right there and that guy was coming at him. And when you're looking at it like this and you make the decision to shoot, it takes .03 seconds to stop to to to make a decision to stop shooting or to not shoot. So, you see one shot go off which probably is going to hit the windshield, maybe the side. The other two he's firing as he's falling down because in his brain he's already made the decision to shoot. By the time he stops it, he's now it sounds like three shots got off. I want to watch it one more time real quick and then we'll let it go. 1 2 3 4 >> Shots fired. >> Hey! >> Good. >> So, looks like one of those might have got him. Clearly. Jeez. This is the dangers that they continue to let back out into our community. >> PUT YOUR HANDS UP! PUT YOUR HANDS UP! ON THE GROUND! GET ON THE GROUND! GET ON THE GROUND! ON THE GROUND! ON THE GROUND! ON THE GROUND! PUT YOUR HANDS BACK! >> IT'S HARD TO SAY whether he's hurt cuz he was crying like this the last time they tackled him in the street and he didn't get hurt. >> All right, cuff him. CUFF HIM. CUFF HIM. >> OH, JEEZ. IT'S HARD TO SAY WHETHER HE GOT HURT. >> HEY, send a rescue. Hey. Ted, send a rescue. I've been hit by a car. Shots fired. Uh we have uh someone down. All right, HAS HE BEEN HIT? IN THE LEG? WHERE? WHERE IS HE HIT? HE'S HIT. HE'S IN THE LEG. >> IN THE LEG? WHERE? >> You got a tourniquet? Get a tourniquet. >> LOOK AT HOW QUICKLY THEY GO into action on saving this guy's life even though he just tried to run over one of the cops. >> Hey, apply pressure right now. GET A TOURNIQUET ON HIM. HEY, WE GOT a gunshot wound to the to the leg. We need a tow truck. >> Right here. Right here. >> Uh we need a bunch of people down here. Come on, let's go. >> You got to love the East Coast, man. We need to get a bunch of people down HERE. COME ON, LET'S GO. That's a tourniquet. >> You got a tourniquet, anybody? >> He's doing a tourniquet now. We got rescue coming? It's on the left. >> A tourniquet is something none of us used to carry or wear and and towards my end of my time, I always had a tourniquet on me and primarily for our own safety to use it for us, but we carry tourniquets for also for rendering aid to suspects or victims or whatever else you might have. A lot of people who die from gunshot wounds don't necessarily die from the gunshot wound, they die from bleeding out from the gunshot wound. So, applying a tourniquet can be the difference between saving somebody's life or not. >> It's on his arm. It's on his arm. It's on his arm. It's on his arm. It's on his arm. >> Get a rescue. >> Where is he shot? >> Here. I have a tourniquet in the back of the knee. >> Oh. >> On the back right here. >> That's all. >> Oh. Oh. >> It's on the back. >> Oh. >> No. >> Oh. >> Hey, we have a rescue coming. >> Oh. It hurts bad. >> I know you're hurting. >> It hurts bad. >> Just keep on breathing. Rescue is coming, all right? >> Well, this old boy should be going back to prison. >> Just one. Just one. >> I think I shot him. >> Gunshot. One gunshot wound. Left stomach. >> Left stomach. >> Oh. Got him in the stomach. >> One patient. Only one patient at this time. >> Are you on the second rescue to continue in on the portion? I have you uh an additional engine. >> As Damian is rushed [music] to the hospital for urgent medical treatment, one of the officers contacts the gas station to obtain surveillance footage. Evidence that will later play a crucial role in revealing exactly [music] what Damian attempted to do this night. >> Got the rifle. >> Do you have access to the video surveillance footage? >> Yeah. >> Anything on that side of the building? >> Yep. >> On the head cam? >> Yeah. >> All right, do me a favor. Just get it timed up for like the last hour. Uh maybe in the last 30 minutes. Uh and then I'll have someone come in here. I'm going to take a look at it. >> The gas station surveillance footage would later reveal that as officers moved into arrest Damian, he suddenly hit the gas. Despite an officer standing directly in his path, Damien chose to continue driving, nearly pinning the officer between his cruiser and the sedan before striking him. Faced with an immediate threat, the officer fired four rounds in self-defense, one of which struck Damien, ultimately leading to the crash and his arrest. The officer sustained injuries during the incident, but was treated and later released after receiving medical care. Damien also survived and made a full recovery. Ultimately, Damien was charged with felony [music] felony assault and or battery, driving to endanger resulting in physical injury, misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance [music] times two. >> That's a misdemeanor? How's that a misdemeanor? That's the problem with some of these states have decriminalized so much stuff. Possession of controlled substance should be a felony. >> Obstructing officer in execution of duty, resisting legal or illegal arrest, disorderly conduct. Eventually, he was found guilty after entering a no contest plea deal, under which >> So, no contest, I've explained it for those who might be on my page for the first time. No contest means you're not saying you're guilty, but you're also acknowledging that the state has enough evidence to put a good case together to for you. So, you say no you plead no contest, goes in front of the judge, the judge then determines what is going to be your sentence. >> His charges of possession of a controlled substance and disorderly conduct were dismissed. Ultimately, he was sentenced to four years in state prison. >> Mhm, not enough. >> years of probation. He is also ordered to complete substance abuse counseling. >> With his criminal history, um with his committing crimes before, 15 days before running from the cops and getting into a little uh I can't even call it an altercation because it was pathetic. But, him getting tossed to the ground and him screaming like a a child, um I would have taken all that into consideration. He gets four years in state prison. Should have been probably 6 to 8, I think. Um 6 years of probation, which I don't have a lot of high hopes that he's going to be able to complete his probation. Should have been violated for what he did before. And he has to complete substance abuse counseling. Lame. Like that's the I he'll do that in prison, by the way. All right. Well, there [snorts] you have it. Uh this is the problem we've talked about over and over again. The police go do their job. They take dangerous people off the streets or people that are harmful to themselves or others. And they take drugs off the streets, only to have prosecutors and judges turn around and be like, "Man, we're going to let him not charge him or release him." Only for them to go back out. And here he is 15 days later, he's back out doing it again, career criminal. And uh almost kills a cop, almost gets himself killed in the process. Ran across traffic, could have hurt somebody else uh in in with the vehicle. Uh in the end, thankfully nobody else was hurt. And uh I don't think 4 years is enough. I don't know. I'd love to know what you think. These guys did a fantastic job on the first one and the second one. And uh uh hopefully the streets of the East Coast are a little bit safer with this guy off those streets for a little bit. And uh I don't think he'll be able to comply with his probation. Let me know what you think. Comment, like, subscribe. We'll catch you on the next video.