CARROLLTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
“The mission of the Carrollton Police Department is to proactively protect our community while treating all we
encounter with professionalism, dignity, and respect.”

Statement from Carrollton Police Chief Derick Miller to the Citizens of Carrollton:

Saturday night, one of our officers was forced to do something that every cop prays that they will
never have to do. He was forced to take a human life in order to save his own life and the life of
his partner. The incident was clearly captured on video, I have seen it and it is disturbing. We
could have easily lost one of our officers Saturday night. To protect the integrity of the grand
jury process, I have decided not to release the video at this time.
I do however feel it is important to let you know what happened.
Officers initiated a traffic stop on a driver they knew to have outstanding felony drug warrants
for heroin and methamphetamine possession. As soon as they approached the vehicle, they saw
the driver, 28-year-old Sterling Humbert, holding a gun. He ignored repeated lawful commands
to drop it, and fled in his vehicle. Officers retreated to their vehicle and then chased after the
fleeing driver.
A short distance later, Humbert stopped his vehicle suddenly. He immediately jumped out of the
driver seat and unmistakably pointed a handgun at our officers while simultaneously closing the
distance in a combative manner.
Our officers continued repeatedly commanding that he drop his gun. Humbert did not comply
and continued closing in with his gun pointed directly at our officers, giving them no other
option than deadly force.
Carrollton Police Officers are trained in de-escalation techniques and employ them daily.
Unfortunately, there are some situations such as this one that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly
evolving where de-escalation is impossible.
To suggest that a police officer should engage in de-escalation tactics in these types of situations
only increases the level of danger to the officer and to the public.
Chief Derick D. Miller
Carrollton Police Department

2025 E. Jackson Road, Carrollton, TX 75006-1739   972.466.3290   Fax: 972.466.3522
P.O. Box 110535, Carrollton, TX 75011-0535   cityofcarrollton.com/police