EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio — Eleven extra present and former East Cleveland Law enforcement officials have been indicted for committing crimes, together with beating, kicking and violently assaulting members of the very group they had been sworn to serve and defend.
The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Workplace and the Cleveland Division of the FBI held a information convention Wednesday afternoon to announce public corruption and civil rights violation indictments towards 11 present and former East Cleveland law enforcement officials.
In attendance had been Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley, Assistant Prosecuting Lawyer Gregory Mussman and FBI Particular Agent in Cost Gregory Nelson.
“The actual sufferer right here was all the metropolis, all of the residents of East Cleveland, who needed to stay in a metropolis with worry.To do on a regular basis chores, to get merely pulled over and the worry of what could occur once they had been merely pulled over or maybe confronted whereas strolling the streets. And it’s arduous for me to think about what they’ve needed to endure,” O’Malley mentioned.
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You possibly can watch the information convention in its entirety beneath:
11 East Cleveland law enforcement officials indicted on quite a few fees
Physique digital camera movies present officers alleged actions — This content material beneath accommodates graphic language. Reader discretion is suggested.
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Authorities confirmed a number of physique digital camera movies of the people who had been indicted.
The primary video offered confirmed Officer Nicholas Foti repeatedly stomping on an individual who was in police custody on the bottom.
The second video exhibits Officer Ian McInnes ordering an individual to lie down on their abdomen. The person is on their knees, going through away from the officer when McInnes approaches from behind and kicks the individual within the again, knocking them to the ground.
The third video exhibits Officer Kyle Wooden, Sgt. John Hartman and Officer Tristan Homan. The video begins with Hartman and Homan driving in a cruiser chasing somebody. As they strategy, one of many officers says, “Get that B****.” Because the car involves a cease, the officers leap out and one says, “Get his ass, get his ass, get his ass boy.” By the point the officers received out of the automobile, the person was already mendacity facedown on the street. Each officers and a 3rd officer strategy and instantly begin beating the individual. They’re then positioned behind a police cruiser. Homan may be heard on a physique digital camera saying, “Good little ass whooping.” Woods responds, “Should not have resisted.”
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The fourth video includes McInnes and exhibits him exiting a police cruiser and operating as much as an individual who’s sitting on the bottom towards a wall with their fingers up within the air. McInnes may be seen shoving the individual to the bottom and kicking them within the groin.
The fifth video exhibits an officer pointing a taser at an unarmed man mendacity face down on the bottom. The person rolls over onto his aspect and the officer yells at him to show round face down and to not transfer. McInnes then runs into the body, rushes as much as the person and kicks him within the ribs.
The sixth video includes Hartman and exhibits him repeatedly placing somebody in custody within the head.
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The seventh video concerned Officer Tyler Mundson, Officer Brian Stoll, and Wooden following an arrest and on the East Cleveland Police Division precinct. Stoll and Mundson are looking out the again of a cruiser and photographs exhibits Stoll discover somebody’s telephone within the again seat. Stoll makes use of two fingers and presses down on the telephone to interrupt it, and says, “Nothing.” The opposite officer replies, “I did not see something both.” Later, Stoll may be seen holding the telephone and stating, “How does it nonetheless activate?” Mundson responds, “That is spectacular.” The 2 officers then discuss with different police personnel, joking about how straightforward the pursuit was. Stoll later says, “I threw the meanest f******* hook.” Mundson responds, “I did not get a single lick in.”
The eighth video, which includes McInnes, Homan and Officer Laurice Mans, exhibits a person colliding with the squad automobile McInnes was driving. McInnes calls out over the radio that the person struck his car, however O’Malley mentioned {that a} longer model of the video extra clearly exhibits that McInnes appeared to strike the person as a substitute of avoiding him.
“Regretfully, what you didn’t see, was the automobile— the officer taking a left flip and didn’t seem to decelerate or didn’t seem to keep away from the accident, versus driving straight into the man,” O’Malley mentioned.
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After the person is on the bottom, there’s a wrestle and one officer makes use of a taser on him thrice whereas the opposite two officers punch him. The person sustained a damaged pelvis from the occasion.
The ninth video exhibits Officer Brian Parks tasing a person a number of instances. The person asks the officer, “why did you tase me?” He responds, “Why did you run?”
“I believe to any informal observer, these movies are appalling and a poor reflection of policing inside our group and clearly prison conduct,” O’Malley mentioned.
The three indictments consisted of a slew of fees towards the 11 officers.
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“I used to be appalled that we may very well be witnessing — witnessing a man handcuffed and his head stomped, or witnessing a man handcuffed and being tased whereas handcuffed repeatedly, which to me is a type of torture. And so actually I used to be shaken. My subsequent ideas went to the victims of those incidents and the way they’re doing. However what we noticed, once more, had been individuals who had surrendered and had been being brutalized. And it upset me. Nevertheless it additionally lit a fireplace in me that this stuff needed to be mounted. And so, repair them we are going to,” O’Malley mentioned.
Seven of the officers are newly indicted. 4 of them had been beforehand indicted on different fees. As of Wednesday, there have been 16 present or former East Cleveland law enforcement officials indicted within the final six-and-a-half months.
“Make no mistake, there was a most cancers rising within the East Cleveland Police Division,” O’Malley mentioned. “We’re doing our greatest to take away each tentacle of that most cancers in order that this division can rebuild and develop, to place itself able to rent officers who implement the legislation in addition to observe the legislation. I wish to say this can be a unhappy day for all of legislation enforcement.”
East Cleveland officer caught on video showing to destroy proof
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Beneath are the person officers and their particular fees:
Brian Thomas Parks – present officer Parks is charged with two counts of felonious assault, each second-degree felonies; tried felonious assault, a third-degree felony, assault, a first-degree misdemeanor; tampering with information, a third-degree felony; interfering with civil rights, a first-degree misdemeanor and dereliction of responsibility, a second-degree misdemeanor.
The entire fees stem from an incident on Oct. 1, 2021.
Nicholas Foti – beforehand resigned Foti is charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony; tried felonious assault, a third-degree felony; assault, a first-degree misdemeanor; interfering with civil rights, a first-degree misdemeanor and dereliction of responsibility, a second-degree misdemeanor.
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The entire fees stem from an incident on April 1, 2020.
Kyle Wooden – East Cleveland investigator – beforehand indicted For an incident that allegedly occurred on March 31, 2022, Wooden has been charged with theft in workplace, a fifth-degree felony; tamping with proof, a third-degree felony; assault, a first-degree misdemeanor; interfering with civil rights, a first-degree misdemeanor; dereliction of responsibility, a second-degree misdemeanor and telecommunications fraud, a fifth-degree felony.
For an incident that allegedly occurred on April 10, 2022, Wooden has been charged with assault, a second-degree felony; tried felonious assault, a third-degree felony; assault, a first-degree misdemeanor; obstructing justice, a third-degree felony; telecommunications fraud, a fifth-degree felony; interfering with civil rights, a first-degree misdemeanor and dereliction of responsibility, a second-degree misdemeanor.
For an incident that allegedly occurred on Nov. 26, 2021, Wooden has been charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony; assault, a first-degree misdemeanor; interfering with civil rights, a first-degree misdemeanor; tampering with information, a third-degree felony and dereliction of responsibility, a second-degree misdemeanor.
For an incident that allegedly occurred on July 16, 2022, Wooden has been charged with telecommunications fraud, a fifth-degree felony; tampering with information, a third-degree felony; assault, a first-degree misdemeanor; interfering with civil rights, a first-degree misdemeanor and dereliction of responsibility, a second-degree misdemeanor
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Tyler Mundson – present police officer – beforehand indicted For an incident that allegedly occurred on March 31, 2022, Mudson has been charged with theft in workplace, a fifth-degree felony; tampering with proof, a third-degree felony; assault, a first-degree misdemeanor; interfering with civil rights, a first-degree misdemeanor and dereliction of responsibility, a second-degree misdemeanor.
For an incident that allegedly occurred on April 10, 2022, Mudson has been charged with obstructing justice, a third-degree felony; interfering with civil rights, a first-degree misdemeanor and dereliction of responsibility, a second-degree misdemeanor.
For an incident that allegedly occurred on July 16, 2022, Mundson has been charged with tampering with information, a third-degree felony; assault, a first-degree misdemeanor; interfering with civil rights, a first-degree misdemeanor and dereliction of responsibility, a second-degree misdemeanor.
Brian Stoll – presently on depart for earlier indictments For an incident that allegedly occurred on March 31, 2022, Stoll is charged with theft in workplace, a fifth-degree misdemeanor; tampering with proof, a third-degree felony; assault, a first-degree misdemeanor; interfering with civil rights, a first-degree misdemeanor and dereliction of responsibility, a second-degree misdemeanor.
For an incident that allegedly occurred on April 10, 2022, Stoll has been charged with assault, a second-degree felony; tried felonious assault, a third-degree felony; assault, a first-degree misdemeanor; obstructing justice, a third-degree felony; assault, a first-degree misdemeanor; interfering with civil rights, a first-degree misdemeanor and dereliction of responsibility, a second-degree misdemeanor.
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Daniel Toomer – presently on depart for earlier indictments For an incident that allegedly occurred on April 10, 2022, Toomer has been charged with obstructing justice, a third-degree felony; tampering with proof, a third-degree felony; tampering with information, a third-degree felony; theft in workplace, a fifth-degree felony; disrupting public companies, a fourth-degree felony; assault, a first-degree misdemeanor; interfering with civil rights, a first-degree misdemeanor and dereliction of responsibility, a second-degree misdemeanor.
Tristan Homan – presently an Elyria police officer after resigning at East Cleveland For an incident that allegedly occurred on Nov. 26, 2021, Homan has been charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony; assault, a first-degree misdemeanor; interfering with civil rights, a first-degree misdemeanor and dereliction of responsibility, a second-degree misdemeanor.
For an incident that allegedly occurred on April 12, 2022, Homan is charged with assault, a first-degree misdemeanor; interfering with civil rights, a first-degree misdemeanor and dereliction of responsibility, a second-degree misdemeanor.
John E. Hartman – present police sergeant For an incident that allegedly occurred on Nov. 26, 2021, Hartman has been charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony; assault, a first-degree misdemeanor; interfering with civil rights, a first-degree misdemeanor; tampering with information, a third-degree felony and dereliction of responsibility, a second-degree misdemeanor.
For an incident that allegedly occurred on July 10, 2022, Hartman has been charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony; tried felonious assault, a third-degree felony; assault, a first-degree misdemeanor; interfering with civil rights, a first-degree misdemeanor and dereliction of responsibility, a second-degree misdemeanor.
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For an incident that allegedly occurred on July 14, 2022, Hartman has been charged with tampering with information, a third-degree felony.
Tre DeHart-Robinson – present police officer For an incident that allegedly occurred on July 16, 2022, DeHart-Robinsonhas been charged with telecommunications fraud, a fifth-degree felony; interfering with civil rights, a first-degree misdemeanor and dereliction of responsibility, a second-degree misdemeanor
Ian W. McInnes – present police detective For an incident that allegedly occurred on Feb. 25, 2020, McInnes is charged with tried felonious assault, a third-degree felony; assault, a first-degree misdemeanor; interfering with civil rights, a first-degree misdemeanor and dereliction of responsibility, a second-degree misdemeanor.
For an incident that allegedly occurred on Feb. 14, 2022, McInnes is charged with tried felonious assault, a third-degree felony; assault, a first-degree misdemeanor; interfering with civil rights, a first-degree misdemeanor and dereliction of responsibility, a second-degree misdemeanor.
For an incident that allegedly occurred on Oct. 3, 2021, McInnes is charged with tried felonious assault, a third-degree felony; assault, a first-degree misdemeanor; interfering with civil rights, a first-degree misdemeanor and dereliction of responsibility, a second-degree misdemeanor.
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For an incident that allegedly occurred on April 12, 2022, McInnes is charged with two counts of felonious assault, each second-degree felonies; assault, a first-degree misdemeanor; interfering with civil rights, a first-degree misdemeanor and dereliction of responsibility, a second-degree misdemeanor.
Laurice Mans – former officer who was terminated For an incident that allegedly occurred on April 12, 2022, Mans is charged with assault, a first-degree misdemeanor; interfering with civil rights, a first-degree misdemeanor and dereliction of responsibility, a second-degree misdemeanor.
Prior indictments Final yr, 9 East Cleveland law enforcement officials— together with Police Chief Scott Gardner— had been indicted on numerous fees. Their instances are all nonetheless pending in court docket.
Gardner was suspended and positioned on administrative depart after he was charged with a number of felonies that included telecommunications fraud, tampering with information, passing unhealthy checks, failing to remit, theft, grand theft and theft in workplace.
That indictment alleged Gardner didn’t file returns and pay taxes from 2014 to 2019, and purposely falsified, destroyed, eliminated, hid, altered, defaced or mutilated digital gross sales tax return information with the aim of defrauding the Ohio Division of Taxation.
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Gardner has since been terminated from East Cleveland Police.
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Cheering on your favorite NBA team or watching the very biggest stars of the basketball world is a welcome present for many on Christmas Day and this year will be no different.
One of the marquee matchups on December 25 sees Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors square off against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers at 8 p.m. ET
But while James, Curry and Draymond Green are reaching the twilights of their respective careers, fans will instantly be taken back to their golden years and the trio starring in what is widely seen as the best Christmas Day game of all time.
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We head back to Christmas Day 2016.
The world was doing the mannequin challenge with “Black Beatles” by Rae Sremmurd sitting atop the Billboard Hot 100, Lamar Jackson had just won the Heisman Trophy and Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone were breaking hearts with “La La Land.”
But the biggest blockbuster of all came at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Christmas Day matchup between the Warriors and the Cavaliers.
The franchises were solidified as two of the best across the NBA and, just months prior, the teams had battled for the Larry O’Brien Trophy over seven games in the 2016 Finals.
The Cavs had come from 3-1 down to complete a historic 4-3 series win and viewers were expecting another hotly contested matchup in the primetime Christmas Day slot – and they weren’t disappointed.
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After the Finals loss, the Warriors responded by picking up 2014 NBA MVP Kevin Durant to go alongside an already loaded roster which featured Curry, Green and Klay Thompson.
This was Durant’s first game against James and Co. for the Warriors and fans were eager to see how the newly formed Golden State squad would match up against Cleveland in what would eventually be the Finals matchup come the end of the season.
How would LeBron, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving respond to the Warriors’ latest move?
Right from tip-off, the game lived up to its blockbuster billing.
Durant wasted no time in showing up in front of the Cavs and kickstarted the matchup with the first points of the game. The rangy forward deflected the ball from James before marching down the court and laying the ball in for an easy two.
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As both teams went back and forth, the now 14-time All-Star and current Phoenix Suns star went on to score another 10 points in the first quarter to give the Warriors a 27-25 lead after the opening 12 minutes.
The second quarter followed a similar pattern as the teams traded buckets, neither allowing the other to grab any significant advantage.
The “Splash Brothers” – Curry and Thompson – began to find their range from deep but a joint effort from the Cavs’ big three of James, Love and Irving kept the game close.
With the Warriors leading 55-52 at the interval, it was all to play for heading into the second half.
Coming out of the break, Golden State picked up from where it left off. Durant continued to spearhead the Warriors offense with Thompson providing deep-range support, nailing multiple threes.
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But as he did throughout the 2016 Finals, James put his team on his back and dragged the Cavs to within striking distance.
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer racked up 16 points in the third quarter alone, making four three-pointers in his efforts to keep the game close.
Despite James’ best attempts, the Warriors had extended their lead and were seven points clear going into the fourth quarter. The Cavaliers needed something close to a Christmas Day miracle to overturn the deficit.
Golden State fans and players were well aware of Cleveland’s ability to produce heroic comebacks and the Cavaliers began their charge in the fourth.
Scoring had suddenly become harder for the Warriors and memories of the NBA Finals would have started to run through the Golden State squad’s minds.
The Cavaliers had upped their intensity and, in front of a boisterous home crowd, had seemingly turned the game on its head.
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Led by Irving’s masterful fourth quarter, Cleveland managed to reduce the deficit and the score was knotted up at 103-103 with just two minutes to play.
With the game tied, Irving, James and Curry all scored crucial buckets but were still left facing a 108-107 Warriors lead with mere seconds left.
Trailing by one, Irving took matters into his own hands. The guard went at Thompson, spinning before deftly finishing with a fadeaway to give the Cavaliers the 109-108 lead and what would be the win.
“The kid is special,” James said of Irving after the game, per the Associated Press. “It was never in doubt.”
Irving scored 25 points to go alongside 10 assists, seven steals and six rebounds – with just two turnovers in 44 minutes on the floor – in an incredible display of clutch basketball. James led the Cavaliers with a 31-point, 13-rebound double-double while fellow star Kevin Love added 20 points, including three triples.
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The man from Akron, Ohio, was aware of the fans’ expectations coming into the game and didn’t disappoint.
“It lived up to what everyone wanted it to,” he added.
Durant led the game in scoring with 36 points along with 15 rebounds, but it ultimately wasn’t enough. But while the Warriors fell short in this one, they did go on to enact revenge on the Cavaliers to win the 2017 NBA Finals with Durant being named Finals MVP.
Fans will be hoping that any of the four games on this year’s Christmas Day schedule come close to the holiday season classic of 2016.
Cleveland, OH – Residents in Northeast Ohio face an Air Quality Advisory today as ground-level fine particle pollution reaches unhealthy levels for sensitive groups. Officials urge those with respiratory issues, children, and the elderly to limit outdoor activities.
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According to the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA), the advisory began at midnight and will remain in effect through midnight tonight. Local air quality monitors predict that weather patterns will cause pollutants to linger, impacting areas like Cleveland, Akron, and Mentor. Residents can monitor real-time air quality updates at airnow.gov and sign up for text alerts at enviroflash.info.
To help mitigate pollution, NOACA encourages simple actions such as carpooling, avoiding engine idling, and postponing outdoor chores like mowing until air quality improves. Commuters are advised to use public transportation or consolidate trips where possible to limit emissions.
Looking ahead, Northeast Ohio’s forecast features mild but wet conditions heading into the weekend. Friday brings a 50% chance of afternoon showers with highs near 48°F. Rain is likely Saturday and Sunday, with highs reaching the low 50s. Gusty winds up to 20 mph may impact visibility for drivers.
Stay updated on changing conditions and travel plans by checking local weather alerts and preparing for rain-heavy travel periods through Sunday.
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CLEVELAND — Not many movies stand the test of time, but “A Christmas Story” is a genuine classic.
What You Need To Know
One northeast Ohio native had a small but memorable part in “A Christmas Story”
The 1983 film only lasted a month in the box office
Drew Hocevar may be remembered for playing the “mean elf” in the film, but he’s anything but
The 1983 film only lasted a month in the box office but has since become a cult classic, drawing fans to the Cleveland home where it was shot all year long. One northeast Ohio native had a small but memorable part in the film and made lifelong friendships.
Drew Hocevar may be remembered for playing the “mean elf” in the film, but he’s anything but.
Known as the “male elf” in the credits, it’s the only acting role Hocevar has ever auditioned for. He was working at Higbees department store when he got the part.
“They just called me, and I got the elf part!” he said.
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He said it was just something fun to do. Being a teacher is what really paid the bills. Hocevar is a former special education teacher and now volunteers as a mechanic working on the merry-go-round at the Western Reserve Historical Society.
Some of the artifacts he saved from the movie are on display at the museum.
“I snagged my hat and ran,” he said.
He said the rest of the costume was thrown away.
Hocevar’s cast-signed poster and bb-gun are on display at the museum
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The museum has a few other special “A Christmas Story” displays, including Lego sculptures depicting memorable scenes from the movie including Hocevar’s scene of him pushing kids down a slide on a fake snow-topped mountain.
Over 40 years later he remains friends with some of the cast including his elf counterpart and recently had lunch with her.
The movie plays numerous times throughout the holiday season, but Hocevar said he tends not to watch. His friends, however, have a special name for Christmas Day.