Police recently released body camera footage showing a shootout between a suspect and officers at a Pleasant Grove motel.
A box truck had been stolen in the early morning hours of August 2, and its contents were traced to a motel room. Officers were dispatched to the motel in the 9600 block of CF Hawn Freeway at 10 a.m. that day, according to a DPD blog post.
In the video released by authorities on August 4, police can be seen knocking on the motel room door. A man purported to be Clifford Osmer, 41, then tries to climb out the window. When confronted by Officer David Cortinas, Osmer appears to abort his attempt to flee and shuts the blinds.
Senior Cpl. Rene Dominguez then orders Osmer to “open the door.” Police were let in by a woman with two dogs who exited the room. As seen in the video, Osmer raises a gun and shoots at the officers as they enter the room. Police return fire, striking Osmer.
Another man can be seen in the room.
“I just got here … I don’t know what the f— is going on, sir,” said the unidentified man, who stayed seated during the shootout.
The room was filled with an assortment of items, many of which were stored in what appeared to be large reusable plastic boxes.
“Please put pressure on it. … I’m bleeding out, man,” Osmer told police. Officer Cortinas handcuffed the other man as a third officer entered the room and applied pressure to Osmer’s wounds.
“I’m not going to live through this bro, I’m shot through the f—ing throat bro,” Osmer said.
The third officer replied, “Come on, man. I’ve done this long enough. Trust me, you’re going to be all right … Stay with me.”
The weapon used to shoot at police at the scene was allegedly stolen, and the items in the room were purportedly the stolen materials from the box truck, according to police. The truck was found in a different location.
Osmer has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a public servant and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to jail records. Other charges are pending, according to DPD’s blog.
The suspect’s bond has been set at $1 million.
Police Chief Eddie García said Osmer has a lengthy criminal history, including past charges of aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a firearm, burglary, engaging in organized criminal activity, evading arrest, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, according to The Dallas Morning News.
Pleasant Grove is a Dallas neighborhood in District 5, represented by Council Member Jaime Resendez.
There have been 153 murders in Dallas in 2023, up from 144 during the same period last year, according to police data updated on August 5. Currently, DPD is short about 900 officers, according to a City analysis.
The shortage has been felt in Downtown Dallas. The neighborhood sees considerably more crime than Fort Worth’s downtown area, which reportedly has a dedicated police unit working alongside private security guards.
