Trial reinstated for Sacramento police officer’s accused killer. Here’s when it could begin

A Sacramento Superior Court judge reinstated criminal proceedings Friday for a man accused of killing a Sacramento rookie police officer during a 2019 standoff in North Sacramento after the defendant was found competent to understand the charges he faces.

Adel Sambrano Ramos, 50, has pleaded not guilty to 13 charges related to the homicide of Officer Tara O’Sullivan and seven counts of attempted murder of law enforcement personnel stemming from the June 19, 2019, North Sacramento standoff. He did not show a reaction to Friday’s ruling by Judge James Arguelles.

“He has no presence symptoms of psychosis or mania that might interfere” with his capacity to assist in his own defense, Arguelles said.

Ramos’ defense attorneys have long attempted to prove their client does not understand the allegations levied against him. They attempted to prove Ramos had an intellectual disability and was disqualified from death penalty. After a bench trial in June, Arguelles found that Ramos does not have an intellectual disability and prosecutors can continue to pursue capital punishment.

Defense attorneys Jan Karowsky and Pete Kmeto then sought to probe Ramos’ mental competency, prompting Arguelles to pause criminal proceedings. A doctor questioned Ramos throughout the summer and found Ramos’ could understand the criminal proceedings.

Lawyers are scheduled to begin selecting a jury in October.

O’Sullivan and Officer Daniel Chipp, who was training her, were called to North Sacramento to help a woman move out of a home she shared with Ramos on Redwood Avenue in the Noralto neighborhood.

Both officers approached the home when a high-powered rifle opened fire from inside the garage, striking O’Sullivan, who had graduated six months earlier from the Sacramento Police Department Academy.

The Sacramento State graduate was mortally wounded and lay on the ground nearly an hour before tactical officers were able to secure her rescue.

Ramos eventually surrendered to law enforcement after an eight-hour standoff.