Woman Suddenly Charges at Officer With a Knife

A routine welfare-related call in Alta Sierra, California, quickly turned into a deadly confrontation when deputies encountered a woman carrying a knife while walking with her two young children. Body-camera and dash-camera footage later released by the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office captured the tense encounter and the moments leading to the shooting. 

DEPUTIES RESPOND TO A DISTURBING CALL

On February 4, 2021, Nevada County deputies were called to the area of Alta Sierra Drive and Names Drive after reports of a woman walking along the roadway with two children. The woman was later identified as 33-year-old Ariella Sage Crawford. Authorities said she appeared to be in distress and was reportedly carrying a knife.

When deputies Caleb Toderean and Matthew Harrison arrived, Crawford became increasingly upset. She positioned herself between the deputies and her children and repeatedly told officers not to hurt them.

DEPUTIES TRIED TO TALK HER DOWN AND REPEATEDLY ASKED HER TO PUT THE KNIFE AWAY.

THE SITUATION ESCALATES

The released footage shows Crawford continuing to move toward the deputies while holding the knife. Officers repeatedly instructed her to back away and attempted to calm the situation.

At one point, Deputy Harrison deployed his Taser from behind. According to the footage and the Sheriff's Office account, the Taser did not stop Crawford. Instead, SHE TURNED AND CHARGED AFTER THE DEPUTY WHILE STILL HOLDING THE KNIFE.

Harrison ran away from Crawford while Toderean followed the confrontation.

DEPUTY OPENS FIRE

As Crawford continued after the deputy, Toderean fired his service weapon. Crawford was struck and fell to the ground across the road.

Her two children could be heard crying and screaming during the confrontation. Deputies then moved the children away from the immediate scene while others remained with Crawford and began providing medical assistance.

THE ENCOUNTER LASTED ONLY A SHORT TIME, BUT IT ENDED WITH CRAWFORD FATALLY WOUNDED.

She was transported to a hospital but later died from her injuries. No deputies or other people were reported injured during the shooting.

BODYCAM FOOTAGE REVEALS THE FINAL MOMENTS

The Nevada County Sheriff's Office later released dashboard-camera footage containing the 911 calls, radio traffic and the deputies' interaction with Crawford.

The video shows the deputies repeatedly attempting to communicate with her before the confrontation rapidly escalated. WHAT BEGAN AS A CALL INVOLVING A WOMAN AND HER CHILDREN BECAME A DEADLY KNIFE ENCOUNTER IN LESS THAN A FEW MINUTES.

The two deputies involved were placed on administrative leave while the shooting was investigated. The incident also drew attention because the county's newly created mobile crisis team was not on duty when the call occurred.