Ohio

Police dog’s attack on Black trucker in Ohio echoes history

Published

7 months ago

October 22, 2023

Police dog’s attack on Black trucker in Ohio echoes history

CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio (AP) — As Jadarrius Rose drove his 18-wheeler through rural Ohio, a simple missing mudflap caught the highway patrol’s eye. The trip ended with a police dog’s powerful jaws clamping down on Rose even as he tried to surrender.

As he stood with his hands up beside the highway on July 4, at least six law enforcement officers surrounded him at a distance, one calling forcefully to the K-9 handler: “Do not release the dog,” highway patrol video shows.

Nevertheless, a Belgian Malinois is seen on the video either breaking free or being set loose. At first, the animal seems confused, racing past Rose toward officers at the far end of the truck, then turning back and running for Rose, then 23.

By then the trucker is on his knees, hands still high, as an officer shouts, “Get the dog off of him!”

That day, Rose joined a long list of Black Americans attacked by police dogs, a history well documented by journalists, academics and filmmakers. Investigations into such cases have been launched regularly in recent years. For some, the scenes harken back to the Civil Rights Movement, when authorities often turned dogs and firehoses on peaceful Black protesters marching for equality.

The Associated Press captured one such attack in a photograph from Birmingham, Alabama, taken in the spring of 1963. It shows two police officers setting a pair of K-9s on 15-year-old Walter Gadsden. One of the dogs lunges straight for the teenager’s belly as the other strains against his leash, panting.

Over the past five years, controversial police K-9 attacks have made headlines across the U.S.

Records reviewed by the AP in 2018 showed the Ohio State Highway Patrol used drug dogs in 28% of its stops involving Black motorists from 2013 through 2017, although the Black population accounts for only about 11.5% of people old enough to have a driver’s permit or license in the state.

The Salt Lake City police department suspended its dog apprehension program in 2020 after a Black man was bitten and an audit found 27 dog bite cases during the previous two years.

The FBI opened an investigation into the police department in Woodson Terrace, Missouri, in 2021 after cellphone video showed three officers allowing a dog to repeatedly bite a Black man. And in 2020, a Black man in Lafayette, Indiana, was placed in a medically induced coma after police dogs mauled him as he was arrested in a battery case.

A TROUBLED HISTORY

Circleville, located about 25 miles (40 km) south of Columbus, Ohio, resembles many rural towns across the country. The city’s downtown is filled with restaurants, law offices and a bakery. Flags honoring fallen servicemen and women hang from lampposts lining Main Street.

While the picture may be idyllic to some of the town’s 14,000 residents, the Rev. Derrick Holmes, longtime leader of the Second Baptist Church, said Black and white residents describe their lives very differently.

“Everyone doesn’t have the same experience, even though they’re all in the same town,” Holmes said. “And I think those divisions exist around the realities of bigotry, the realities of racism.”

At church services the day after the video of Rose’s arrest aired, Holmes said the congregation was appalled, but not entirely surprised.

“People were horrified by it,” he said. “Angered by it. Frustrated by it. And also there was a feeling of, ‘Well, here we go again.’”

This isn’t the first time Circleville police have grappled with uncomfortable questions about how they train and use police dogs. Nearly 20 years ago, a founder of the K-9 unit sued the department after he was fired for insubordination. Officer David Haynes had publicly opposed cutting training hours for dogs and their handlers to 172 hours annually from 500 hours, according to court documents.

Haynes warned in a 2003 memo that “words like ‘deliberate indifference,’ ‘negligence’ and ‘failure to train’ will someday be brought up.”

Today, Circleville’s K-9s train 16 hours per month, or 192 hours a year, according to the department. Police Chief Shawn Baer did not respond to numerous messages seeking comment.

Employing dogs to dominate a population can be traced back at least to European settlers colonizing the Americas, when the animals were used against Indigenous people. They were introduced in Southern U.S. states to capture — and sometimes kill — enslaved Black people who escaped, said Madalyn Wasilczuk, a University of South Carolina professor and author of a law journal article titled, “ The Racialized Violence of Police Canine Force.”

Wasilczuk found data on K-9 police attacks sparse, but said the animals are often used in nonviolent situations and their presence can lead to serious injury.

“When you talk about an apprehension, police talk about bite and hold, and that sounds very antiseptic,” Wasilczuk said. “But when you look at a video of what happens, you see a dog doing what it does with a chew toy, which is it grabs on, it tries to hold on, its head whips back and forth and its teeth are sunk into that body part as deeply as they can.”

THE AFTERMATH

In Rose’s case, law enforcement originally sought to pull him over because of his truck’s missing mudflap, according to a highway patrol report. Circleville Police were there to assist.

What happened next can be pieced together from law enforcement video and the incident report.

Rose initially didn’t stop as police pursued him. When he did, he saw officers with their guns drawn and took off again. At some point, he called 911 and told a dispatcher he feared the officers were “trying to kill” him. After pulling over a second time, he delayed getting out of the truck and did not immediately get on the ground as instructed.

He initially was charged with a felony for failing to comply with officers, but prosecutors dropped the case. Online court documents show Rose was charged Sept. 26 with a misdemeanor version of the offense and there is an active warrant for his arrest.

Neither Rose nor his attorney responded to repeated messages seeking comment.

It’s not clear why a K-9 unit was at the scene that day. Michael Gould, a former New York City police officer and founding member of the NYPD’s K-9 unit, said officers appeared to have control once they surrounded Rose with their guns drawn. And then there’s the image of Rose with his hands up.

“He was compliant and not a threat to anyone,” Gould said.

Rose required hospital care for the bites he suffered. Whether he sustained lasting injury is unclear.

The dog’s police handler, Officer Ryan Speakman, was fired, but the Ohio Patrolman’s Benevolent Association filed a grievance on his behalf arguing the officer was fired without just cause.

Circleville City Councilwoman Caryn Koch-Esterline said police have yet to account for what happened.

“I’m just waiting for all the information to come out,” she said in a brief interview with the AP three months after Rose’s arrest.

For those working to improve race relations in Ohio, the roadside attack was a reminder of all that is still left to do.

“If it were a white man and a dog was unleashed on that individual, what would that community be saying? I bet they would be up in arms,” said Nana Jones, president of the Columbus Chapter of the NAACP.

___

Associated Press writers Rhonda Shafner and Aaron Morrison in New York, Mike Schneider in Orlando, Florida, and Samantha Hendrickson in Columbus, Ohio, contributed to this report.

Source link

Related Topics:a ap top news Associated Press Black people Circleville crime dogs Featured General news law enforcement n Ohio Politics race and ethnicity U.S. News®

Click to comment

Ohio

Entire Staff at Ohio Preschool Resigns at Once: 'We Gave Our Life to Those Four Walls'

Published

7 hours ago

May 26, 2024

Press Room

Entire Staff at Ohio Preschool Resigns at Once: 'We Gave Our Life to Those Four Walls'

The entire staff at an Ohio preschool is taking a stand.

According to ABC affiliate News 5 Cleveland, all of the members of the staff of the preschool at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Amherst — including the director and assistant director — resigned at once last week due to a lack of transparency from the church’s leaders.

The school’s now-former assistant director, Heather Nail, confirmed to the outlet that the resignations were driven by budget concerns.

“Each year to start your new year you got to know what your budget is,” Nail said. “And when you don’t have a clear number of what your numbers are, it’s very hard to start that year.”

She and the now-former director, Wendy Kosakowski — who worked at the school for 18 years — confirmed that they had budget concerns for years and were never given the answers they needed from the church council about any preschool funds. This, they said, led them to reach a breaking point and decide to walk away.

“We held our heads up high, and we just left with our integrity and our morals,” Kosakowski told News 5 Cleveland, noting that the staff does “appreciate everything” they got from working at the school for a combined 50 years. “We gave our life to those four walls,” Kosakowski said.

Teacher Kerri Kobylka and aide Taylor Stempowski also stepped down when their colleagues did.

According to Kosakowski, her staff would attend meetings and ask where the money went from fundraisers specifically for the preschool and would receive no answers.

“We just decided we’re tired of fighting for really finding out what’s going on,” she said.

Local parents also expressed their frustration with the situation.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“I did take him out of the program because all of the teachers left,” mom Taylor Watson, whose older son previously graduated from the preschool, told News 5 Cleveland of her younger son.

Jessica Pieciak, whose daughter just finished her second year at the school, said she is disappointed that the staff and church leadership could not resolve their issues. “I think the main issue here is the transparency,” she told News 5 Cleveland. “We were fundraising for the preschool, not for the church.”

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Kosakowski said she empathizes with the families who make up the school’s community.

“It’s just very sad for those parents who cannot find another preschool because they’re full,” she explained. “And those are the parents that I’m very sorry for, and I am truly sorry for how this year ended. This is not the way that we wanted it to end at all.”

The teaching staff told News 5 Cleveland that the church plans to continue running the preschool with new leadership.

Source link

Ohio

Severe thunderstorm watch issued for central Ohio

Published

14 hours ago

May 26, 2024

Press Room

Severe thunderstorm watch issued for central Ohio

A number of central Ohio counties are under a severe thunderstorm watch issued by the National Weather Service on Sunday afternoon.

Franklin, Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Hocking, Licking, Madison, Pickaway and Union counties, along with 23 other Ohio counties, are in the watch area. It is set to expire at 8 p.m.

The storms are expected to start this afternoon and return overnight. The main threat is damaging winds, but large hail, tornadoes and flash flooding caused by rain are possible, according to a hazardous weather outlook issued by NWS Wilmington.

The chance of precipitation during the day is 80% and rises to 90% overnight. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is expected during the day, but rainfall between a quarter and a half of an inch is possible overnight, according to NWS Wilmington’s forecast.

The chance for a thunderstorm continues into Memorial Day on Monday.

Columbus forecast for the week of May 26

There is to be a stormy start to the week before clearing up.

Memorial Day: Showers and thunderstorms are likely, primarily before 1 p.m. Otherwise, it’s to be partly sunny with a high near 78. Winds could gust up to 25 miles per hour. The chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch are possible, except it could be higher if it storms.
Monday night: Partly cloudy with a low around 60.
Tuesday: There is a chance of showers after 2 p.m. Though, it is to be sunny with a high near 75. The chance of precipitation is 40% and less than a tenth of an inch of rainfall is expected.
Tuesday night: There’s a chance of showers before 8 p.m. It’s to be partly cloudy with a low around 55. Chance of precipitation is 30%, and less than a tenth of an inch is expected.
Wednesday: There’s a chance of showers. Otherwise, it’s to be mostly sunny with a high near 71. The chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wednesday night: Mostly clear with a low around 49.
Thursday: Sunny with a high near 72.
Thursday night: It’s to be clear with a low around 48.
Friday: Sunny with a high near 76.
Friday night It’s to be mostly clear with a low around 52.
Saturday: It’s to be mostly sunny with a high near 81.

NHart@dispatch.com

@NathanRHart

Source link

Ohio

What are the best theme parks within driving distance of Ohio? Our readers have chosen

Published

21 hours ago

May 26, 2024

Press Room

What are the best theme parks within driving distance of Ohio? Our readers have chosen

Ohio has Cedar Point and Kings Island, two great amusement parks. But if you’re willing to drive, there’s more to be found, like Dollywood and Hersheypark, all among the 10Best as chosen by readers.

Cedar Point and Kings Island are among the top amusement parks in the country according to various USA TODAY 10Best lists, as chosen by readers. But if you’re looking for something new, there are other options within driving distance to consider.

Here’s a look at what’s new at the Ohio attractions and what’s ranked in the 10Best lists in nearby states.

What’s new at Kings Island, Cedar Point?

Cedar Point’s newest and biggest attraction this season is the Top Thrill 2 coaster. However, the amusement park was forced to close the ride barely a month after its debut for modifications to the vehicles.

On USA TODAY’s 10Best lists, Cedar Point came in at No. 10 for Best Theme Park and was No. 5 for Best Theme Park Hotel, Hotel Breakers at Cedar Point.

At Kings Island, Camp Snoopy, an extension of the Planet Snoopy kids’ area, will have a different look after construction. Existing rides in that part of the park will be open to start the season.

Likewise, a new outdoor bar next to Coconut Cove Cafe will debut when Soak City opens on Memorial Day weekend. On the 10Best lists, Kings Island and Kings Dominion Grand Carnivale earned a mention on the Theme Park Festivals You Can’t Miss list.

If you’re willing to travel, Indiana and Pennsylvania have amusement parks that the 10Best voters believe are worth checking out.

Here’s what to know about them.

Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari — Santa Claus, Indiana

Splashin’ Safari came in at No. 6 for the 10Best Outdoor Water Parks. The article draws attention to Mammoth, a massive water coaster that takes up three acres and offers multiple drops with technology to plunge six passengers again and again.

At Holiday World, wooden coaster The Voyage was tagged No. 7 on the 10Best Roller Coasters. Riders of this wooden coaster experience total weightlessness for 24.3 seconds as well as one of the steepest drops of any wooden coaster in the world.

Address: 452 E. Christmas Blvd., Santa Claus, IN 47579
Website: HolidayWorld.com
Distance from Akron: About 400 miles, or a six-hour drive
Distance from Columbus: About 280 miles, or a four-hour drive
Distance from Cincinnati: About 170 miles, or a 2.5-hour drive

Hersheypark — Hershey, Pennsylvania

Coming it at No. 4 on the Best Theme Parks list, Hersheypark features more than 70 rides, including more than a dozen roller coasters, shows, a water park and an 11-acre zoo, according to the article, all included with the admission.

One of its coasters, Wildcat’s Revenge, is No. 4 on the 10Best Roller Coasters ranking. It added steel to a wooden frame to create a new hybrid ride. It climbs to a height of 140 feet, hits 62 mph and drops at 82 degrees.

The Chocolatier at Hersheypark comes in at No. 2 for Best Theme Park Restaurant. It isn’t just about chocolate, according to the article, though cocoa is incorporated into many of its dishes. The Chocolatier is a full-service restaurant that offers views of the park from its second-story patio and bar.

And Hersheypark tops the list for Best Theme Park Hotel with The Hotel Hershey. A member of the Historic Hotels of America, the hotel is an “elegant retreat,” according to the article. It offers a wide range of facilities including a fitness center, golf, tennis, hiking and a pool with waterslides.

Address: 100 Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, PA 17033
Website: Hersheypark.com
Distance from Akron: About 320 miles, or a five-hour drive
Distance from Columbus: About 380 miles, or a six-hour drive
Distance from Cincinnati: About 490 miles, or a 7.5-hour drive

Knoebels — Elysburg, Pennsylvania

Knoebels comes in at No. 2 for Best Theme Park, and claims the top spot in two categories — Best Roller Coaster and Best Theme Park Restaurant.

According to the articles, Knoebels is home to The Phoenix, one of the most popular wooden coasters in the country, and is practically a museum of classic rides that are still operating, like Whipper, Flying Turns, The Haunted Mansion dark ride and the Sky Slide. But don’t think it’s all vintage. The park has modern rides as well as a water park.

Its restaurant, The Alamo, still offers burgers and hot dogs priced at family friendly prices of $5 or less. But the menu includes so much more, like crab cakes, chicken and waffles, and spaghetti and meatballs.

Address: 391 Knoebels Blvd., Elysburg, PA 17824
Website: Knoebels.com
Distance from Akron: About 300 miles, or a 4.5-hour drive
Distance from Columbus: About 420 miles, or a 6.5-hour drive
Distance from Cincinnati: About 530 miles, or an 8-hour drive

Kennywood — West Mifflin, Pennsylvania

Just outside of Pittsburgh, Kennywood only hits the 2024 10Best lists once, but it’s a big one.

Coming in at No. 8 for Best Theme Park, Kennywood offers iconic rides and classic favorites, according to the article. These include wooden roller coasters such as the side-by-side Racer and the 1920s-era Jack Rabbit. Plus, there’s a collection of dark rides like the Old Mill and the last-of-its-kind Noah’s Ark, as well as modern rides like the Steel Curtain coaster.

Address: 4800 Kennywood Blvd, West Mifflin, PA 15122
Website: Kennywood.com
Distance from Akron: About 120 miles, or just over a 2-hour drive.
Distance from Columbus: Nearly 200 miles, or just over a 3-hour drive.
Distance from Cincinnati: About 300 miles, or more than a 4.5-hour drive.

Dollywood — Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Dollywood seems to be a popular destination for USA TODAY readers — it landed on 10Best lists for Best Theme Park, Best Roller Coaster, Best Outdoor Water Park, Best Theme Park Hotel and Best Theme Park Restaurant.

Tucked in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, Dollywood has it all, according to the article — thrill rides, coasters, kiddie rides and everything in between.

It also features live demonstrations, lavish shows and special events all year long, landing Dollywood at No. 5 on the best theme parks list. Its Splash Country came in at No. 10 for outdoor water park.

At No. 5 for best roller coaster, Dollywood’s Lightning Rod lifts its riders more than 20 stories before sending them down a 165-foot drop. And that’s just at the start. The coaster, modeled after a 1950s hot rod, reaches speeds of 73 mph.

Aunt Granny’s, No. 3 for best theme park restaurant, is a sit-down dining experience offering comfort food such as fried chicken and macaroni and cheese served family-style. And the HeartSong Lodge & Resort, No. 3 for best theme park hotel, is rustic yet modern, according to the article, featuring two pools, restaurants and outdoor fire pits.