PICKAWAY COUNTY, Ohio — The deputy facing criminal charges in Pickaway County had a trouble past, while new video has surfaced of the April incident in which he faces criminal charges.
Personnel records obtained by the Guardian reveal that Deputy Ryan J. Howard had previous complaints filed against him on at least five occasions. In one instance, Howard was accused of breaking chain-of-command. In another situation, he was accused of not properly logging $2,000 in drug money that was seized.
In an August complaint, Howard was accused of illegally pulling over a man, stealing the man’s prescription medication, and tearing up a picture during a search of the man’s vehicle. That man filed an excessive use of force complaint against Howard, as well, saying that Howard jerked him around and intentionally twisted the man’s wrists and made handcuff’s too tight, while telling him to “shut up.” During an internal affairs investigation, Howard was counseled about the situation and told to monitor his behavior.
The deputy was previously employed by the South Bloomfield Police Department, according to public records. While there, Howard faced two writeups, both occurring early-on in his hiring, the chief said.
Howard is on paid administrative leave from the Sheriff’s office and faces three criminal charges after the county Sheriff said that in April, Howard punched a suspect after a pursuit and then lied about it in his paperwork; those charges were filed on Wednesday. Video of the incident was released by the Sheriff this week.
New video obtained by the Guardian shows a more clear and better angle to the situation where Howard is currently facing criminal charges.
In the video, Howard is shown kneeling on a man’s back, placing him in handcuff, and punching the man in the face. The video does not show any signs of the man resisting, and the Sheriff said that is why Howard is facing assault charges, along with dereliction of duty and lying on paperwork.
He is due in court next week.
