Ohio State police add Chase Center patrols after professor’s viral tackle

Ohio State University police officers are temporarily patrolling the academic building where a professor tackled a filmmaker attempting to question E. Gordon Gee, the university confirmed.

Officers have been present at Smith Lab since last week for a late Monday afternoon class, Profiles in American Leadership, which was co-taught by Luke Perez.

Perez, an assistant professor affiliated with Ohio State’s Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture and Society, was placed on leave Feb. 10 and was charged with assault after tackling Columbus filmmaker Mike Newman after his class had ended. Newman had tried to ask Gee, the two-time former Ohio State president and current Chase Center consultant, a question on camera. The incident was captured on video by a bystander and quickly went viral.

Ohio State spokesperson Ben Johnson said the police presence is “due to the class’s upcoming speakers.”

According to the Chase Center’s website, Profiles in American Leadership explores the question, “What does it mean to lead with purpose in a complex world?” through a series of guest speakers. Confirmed speakers for the class include Bishop Earl Fernandes, Rabbi Lewis Kamrass, former Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, State Rep. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio (D-Gahanna) and Ohio Supreme Court Justice Melody Stewart, according to the class description.

“This is a temporary measure,” Johnson said. “OSUPD will help determine the most appropriate public safety approach, as they would with any campus unit.”

The police presence, however, does not mean Perez is back in the building. Johnson said Perez remains on administrative leave, and the university investigation is ongoing.

Both Perez and Newman were in Franklin County Municipal Court earlier this week for Perez’ arraignment on one count of assault, a first-degree misdemeanor. First-degree misdemeanors in Ohio are punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. Perez pleaded not guilty and was released on the condition he has no contact with the victim. The judge also granted Newman a temporary protection order against Perez.

According to the affidavit, Perez harmed Newman by “slapping Newman’s hand, with an open palm strike, causing his phone to fall to the ground. Perez then grabs Newman’s right shoulder, and slapped the left side of Newman’s face with an open palm, while pushing him to the ground.”

Though the judge granted the protection order, Perez is allowed to be on the Ohio State University campus, and the order will not require Perez to leave if Newman is on campus filming.

Higher education reporter Sheridan Hendrix can be reached at shendrix@dispatch.com and on Signal at @sheridan.120. You can follow her on Instagram at @sheridanwrites.