{"id":421002,"date":"2026-08-01T18:05:08","date_gmt":"2026-08-01T18:05:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/421002\/"},"modified":"2026-08-01T18:05:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T18:05:08","slug":"sacramento-launches-private-security-force-after-mass-stabbing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/421002\/","title":{"rendered":"Sacramento launches private security force after mass stabbing"},"content":{"rendered":"

A mass stabbing that rocked Sacramento<\/a> last weekend has the police promising more patrols in the area \u2014 with a local business group flexing its private security force.<\/p>\n

The Downtown Sacramento Partnership, which represents businesses in the area, announced it is expanding private security patrols in Old Sacramento after the outburst of violence. <\/p>\n

The security company, HQ Security, will double its presence and staffing on Friday and Saturday nights while patrolling the area in black cars.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe downtown neighborhood needs to be fundamentally safe, welcoming for everyone and having proactive private security patrol to work in close collaboration with traditional law enforcement is that best practice,\u201d Scott Ford of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership told KCRA<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Private security patrols have increased in downtown Sacramento. KCRA 3<\/p>\n

The contract for beefed-up staffing with HQ Security is for one year, which could be extended afterward. Ford said the hope for increased numbers in the Old Sacramento area is to have \u201ca visible presence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Old Sacramento, a historic district that hugs the Sacramento River, is a popular tourist destination that can not take on a reputation of being crime-riddled, authorities and others said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOld Sacramento is an iconic destination and part of this city\u2019s identity,\u201d Michael Ault, the partnership\u2019s executive director, told CBS<\/a>. \u201cWe need to protect it, invest in it and let people know this is a safe place to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Sacramento police are also stepping up patrols every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night starting at 10 p.m. <\/p>\n

There will be nighttime traffic restrictions throughout Old Sacramento, with several streets becoming pedestrian-only after 10 p.m. Drivers will still be able to enter and leave the area. The traffic changes are aimed at reducing congestion for safety reasons.<\/p>\n

Private security patrols have increased in downtown Sacramento. KCRA 3<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat this traffic management plan does is it helps us be more present, more visible in the area, to have that sense of safety,\u201d Sacramento police spokesperson Allison Smith told CBS. \u201cIf we need to step into something, we will be there right away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sacramento\u2019s existing nighttime curfew for minors will also be more heavily enforced in the area, police said.<\/p>\n

All these plans were spurred after the mass stabbing incident left five men in a hospital. A booze-fueled argument exploded after 3 a.m. near Front Street and K Street, where Sacramento police responding to reports of an assault with a weapon found three men suffering from\u00a0stab wounds<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sacramento Police Department said five men were stabbed near Front Street and K street on July 25, 2026. KCRA 3<\/p>\n

Investigators arrested 18-year-old\u00a0Sacramento resident<\/a>\u00a0Ezekiel Griffis after identifying him as a person of interest in the stabbing. He was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on assault charges.<\/p>\n

Other high-profile incidents have plagued Old Sacramento before, such as a 2021 brawl involving about 50 juveniles. <\/p>\n

Visitors told KCRA the increased security is not a bad thing.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt does make you feel safe and secure that you want to come down and hang out and explore all the different venues. I would be coming down by myself at this point or with a girlfriend and before, I don\u2019t think I felt that way,\u201d said visitors Cindy Scheffler and Brenda Timmins.<\/p>\n

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