Why Did Ohio Police Sic A K9 On Unarmed Surrendering Black Truck Driver?
Several Ohio agencies are investigating why a K9 unit police officer released his dog to attack an unarmed Black truck driver who is seen in body camera video surrendering to state troopers after a highway chase, The Associated Press reports.
At least one of those agencies is the Use of Force Review Board, the Circleville Police Department told Columbus,Ohio station WSYX. A report from the review board, made up of five community members, is expected by early August.
The July 4 incident on state highway 35 began when troopers attempted to stop the truck driver, 23-year-old Jadarrius Rose of Memphis, because of a missing mud flap on his commercial semi-truck, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. When Rose didn’t comply with orders to stop, Circleville Police Department officers were called for assistance.
Rose told a 911 dispatcher that he couldn’t understand why the officers were trying to stop him and why they had their guns drawn after he stopped the truck briefly before driving off, an audio of Rose’s 911 calls show.
“Right now I have police officers following me for a long time and I am trying to figure out why they have their guns pulled out," Rose said to a dispatcher, according to WSYX. "I am just a truck driver. I was about to comply with them but they all had their guns drawn out. There are like 20 police cars behind me. And I don’t feel safe.”
The pursuit came to an end after troopers placed spike strips in the roadway that blew out Rose's tires, forcing him to pull over on Route 23, according to the police.
ABC News reports that the police video footage shows Rose’s surrender. As he complies with orders to kneel with both hands in the air, a trooper is heard in the video yelling, "Do not release the dog with his hands up." The footage shows a Circleville police handler of a German Shepherd releasing the dog that attacks Rose.
Rose appears to be in pain and yells “Get it off! Please! Please!” before the attack ends. He was treated at the scene by EMTs and then taken to a hospital for further treatment for dog bites. The police later transported him to Ross County Jail.
"I was traumatized because it brought back memories from the 1960s," NAACP Columbus Chapter President Nana Watson told WSYX about the video. "I was afraid for him. I was fearful for him. I was taken aback when he had his hands up and they unleashed the dog on him."
The K9 officer who released the dog was identified as Officer Ryan Speakman. Circleville Mayor Don McIlroy told WSYX that Speakman has been on administrative leave since at least July 20, adding that this isn’t the first time that disciplinary action was taken against Speakman but offered no details.
Meanwhile, the police charged Rose with failure to comply. Ross County Prosecutor Jeffrey Marks is reviewing materials in the case but has not yet decided whether to pursue prosecution of Rose.