COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Division of Police has released a detailed statement regarding a recent incident involving an officer and a man holding a baby, following public scrutiny over a viral social media video.
According to Police Chief Elaine R. Bryant, the incident occurred Friday morning on the 1400 block of East Whittier Avenue. Officers responded to a vehicle illegally parked on a sidewalk at a designated COTA bus stop. Body-worn camera (BWC) footage reportedly shows the man taking the baby from a woman and recording the officer’s approach with his phone.
The officer directed the man to move the vehicle, but he refused and began shouting, leading the officer to inform him he would be cited. The situation escalated as the man backed into Whittier Street while still holding the baby. When the officer attempted to remove him from the roadway, he resisted.
During the struggle, the man repeatedly said, “Kill me,” according to police. Officers made over two dozen requests for him to release the child, but he refused. A sergeant later arrived and removed the baby before the man was arrested for failure to comply and obstructing official business. Police stated that a Level 1 use of force, which includes empty-hand control and joint manipulations, was used during the arrest.
In a move for transparency, the department is releasing video footage of the incident and has referred the case to the Department of the Inspector General for an independent investigation.
The Columbus Police Department continues to face public scrutiny over the handling of the incident.
