The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office has announced that a Washoe County man has been sentenced to prison for a February 20, 2019 attack on an officer with the Reno Police Department (RPD). Ronald George Akers, 43 yrs (DOB 10/3/76) from Huntington Park, California pled no contest in February to one count of Attempted Murder and was sentenced to a term of 20 years in prison, with parole eligibility to begin after a minimum of 8 years has been served. This is the maximum sentence allowed by law for the charge.

Akers was convicted of having repeatedly hit Reno Police Department (RPD) Patrol Officer Ryan Gott over the head with the officer’s own baton an estimated 14 times causing numerous contusions and several lacerations. Akers had gained control of the officer’s baton during a struggle that ensued after he suddenly punched the officer in the face while being questioned about his involvement in a trespassing at a nearby fast food restaurant. The officer encountered Akers a short distance away from a South Reno McDonalds where management had reported a previously trespassed subject who matched the defendant’s description had become aggressive when asked to leave. During the confrontation with Officer Gott, Akers was shot once in the stomach before other officers arrived to assist. Medical care was provided to both the officer and the defendant and both were transported to Renown Medical Center for treatment. Following the shooting, the Regional Officer Involved Shooting Protocol was initiated and the subsequent investigation was forwarded to this office for eventual review. As is routine, the District Attorney’s Office Officer Involved Shooting (OIS) review is held pending adjudication of a defendant’s criminal case. The OIS report on this case will be released to the public when completed. 

At sentencing, Chief Deputy District Attorney Zach Young argued that the severity of the beating, the repeated non-compliance with lawful commands, the significant-permanent injuries Officer Gott sustained, and the defendant’s criminal history justified the maximum sentence. Video from Officer Gott’s Body Worn Camera was presented at the sentencing hearing, and showed how the defendant was immediately confrontational with Officer Gott, who repeatedly attempted to de-escalate the situation, to no avail. Officer Gott, who testified at the sentencing hearing, stated that he had intended on providing assistance and treatment options to the defendant upon first contact.