CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump and attorney Kenneth Abbarno have who has been hired by the man mauled by a Circleville Police K9 has released a statement in response to the firing of the former officer involved, Ryan Speakman.
Crump and Abbarno said that unleashing the dog on Jadarrius Rose during a traffic stop was horrific.
“It was the right decision to fire Ryan Speakman for releasing the police canine on Jadarrius,” said the lawyers. “The bottom line is that Speakman used force on Jadarrius while he was complying – in our opinion, that force was excessive. The excessive force Speakman used was not a baton or taser like we often see in these incidents, it was a live animal that repeatedly sunk its teeth into an already terrified Jadarrius, conjuring disturbing images from the past.”
The two lawyers intend to file a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the city for Speakman’s actions.
“This traumatic experience will stay with Jadarrius for the rest of his life. As evidenced by the 911 call, he feared these officers and he was clearly correct to do so. He has the physical and emotional scars to prove it.”
Crump is an American attorney who specializes in civil rights and catastrophic personal injury cases such as wrongful death lawsuits. His practice has focused on cases such as those of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, George Floyd, Keenan Anderson, Randy Cox, and Tyre Nichols, people affected by the Flint water crisis, the estate of Henrietta Lacks, and the plaintiffs behind the 2019 Johnson & Johnson baby powder lawsuit alleging the company’s talcum powder product led to ovarian cancer diagnoses.
The Guardian covered the pursuit in real-time as it was happening, but it was not until earlier last week when body cam footage was released by the Highway Patrol of Rose surrendering that a seemingly routine felony traffic stop turned into something much more serious that would captivate a nation. The story has since gone international, being covered by CNN, ABC, NBC, The Washington Post, Columbus Dispatch, and even news outlets in London, England and Japan.
Crump was hired after a video of the K9 attack went viral. In the video, Rose is seen stopping the semi along route 23 just inside the Pickaway County line. He voluntarily ended the chase, got out of the semi, and was complying with state troopers’ commands during a surrender. With his hands in the air, the video shows the Circleville Police K9 unit arrive at the scene, simultaneously yelling different commands to Rose, before the dog was unleashed by Officer Ryan Speakman. Speakman was yelling at Rose to get on the ground, while troopers were yelling for him to walk toward them. A confused Rose pointed at both and stood still, with his hands up. Once the dog was unleashed, it went charging after the state trooper who was yelling to Rose, before the dog was redirected by Speakman and told to attack Rose. By this time, Rose was on his knees with his hands in the air still complying. The video of the attack has gone international with countless people calling for action.
Speakman was fired on Wednesday from his job, but he stands a good chance of getting it back after he has filed union grievance paperwork, which may just work after a loophole was created by the town’s police chief.
The Guardian uncovered information that Speakman was allowed to continue working without any repercussions immediately after the July 4 incident. In fact, the town’s mayor confirmed to news media this week that Speakman was not placed on leave until July 20 — 17 days after the K9 attack and only after the news media brought the matter to light, which gained international attention. The lack of immediate action and failure to place Speakman on leave came about when the Guardian requested a copy of a ruling that initially cleared Speakman of any wrongdoing in the incident earlier in the month.
A protest is planned at noon in front of the police department in Circleville on Saturday.
The initial paperwork
On July 17, the Guardian asked from the police department for a copy of “the report that ruled out excessive use of force in the K9 pursuit on 23 Southbound that occurred on July 4, where CPD backed up OSP (the highway patrol) for a fleeing semi driver.” Initially, Chief Gary Shawn Baer instructed his records clerk to provide the requested documents, but then reversed his decision, leaving the news and the public in the dark.
It was only after the news of the incident and the subsequent lack of transparency gained international attention that the chief seemingly realized the gravity of the situation. Amid growing public scrutiny and mounting pressure, Speakman was belatedly placed on paid leave, 17 days after the initial incident. Simultaneously, the police department convened a “use of force review board,” raising suspicions of a deliberate attempt to manage the narrative.
“Our investigation included the Circleville Police Use of Force Review Board determination that the department’s policy for the use of canines was followed in the apprehension and arrest.” Despite saying Speakman followed policies when he unleashed the dog, he was fired anyway.
The termination of Speakman, as stated in a press release written by Baer on Wednesday, indicated that Speakman properly followed all department policies and procedures. Critics argue that the chief’s handling of the entire situation warrants a thorough investigation into his conduct. The timing of events and the reluctance to disclose essential public records have raised suspicions about potential attempts to cover up the incident or protect certain individuals within the police department.
Many call for more investigations
One chief law enforcement officer told the Guardian in an interview on Wednesday that Baer should be placed on leave immediately and investigated.
“If the matter has already been reviewed and determined, it should have already been presented to the prosecutor for review and presentation to the grand jury,” the longtime law enforcement officer said. “The chief should be immediately placed on leave pending a full internal and criminal investigation so he has no influence on either. The suspensions should include those who conducted the initial investigation and advised the chief erroneously. Their efforts to cover up has already been exposed and they too, could influence any investigation. If the mayor was advised and or involved, he too should step aside.”
The recent turn of events has laid the foundation for Speakman to seek reinstatement through arbitration in the coming months, according to members of the Black Lives Matter movement. Arbitration is a process laid out in the department’s contract with the police officer’s union.
“Our focus now shifts to Chief of Police, Gary Shawn Baer, and the concerning circumstances surrounding Speakman’s initial employment status. We question why Speakman was not placed on leave until the video of the attack garnered national attention in the news media. It has come to our attention that Chief Baer ruled internally before the story was shared in the news that there was initially no wrongdoing,” members of the movement released in a statement. “It was only after the intervention of the news media that Speakman was placed on leave nearly 20 days after the incident, and then, suddenly a new review was opened. Chief Baer must be investigated now as to why he concealed the initial finding of no wrongdoing, and the initial ruling must be brought to light as Speakman stands a very good chance of winning reinstatement through a union grievance process. He has paperwork in his hand that says, “You did nothing wrong,” only to be given termination paperwork that says, “you’re being fired because the news media picked this up and now we are catching heat.” The termination will not stand in an appeal process.”
The town’s mayor, Don McIlroy did not return a request for an interview for this story.
How Speakman could be re-hired in a few months
Community leaders, civil rights activists, and concerned citizens are calling for an impartial and external investigation into Baer’s actions during the aftermath of the July 4 incident. They believe that the chief’s conduct has shaken the public’s trust in the police department and that a thorough examination is necessary to restore confidence in law enforcement. They also said the announcement of the termination on Wednesday clearly says Speakman was in the right “but too bad.” The group added that they are concerned that in six months, when the the media cycle has moved onto other stories that Speakman will get his job back due to Chief Baer’s actions. The group has a protest scheduled for this weekend in downtown Circleville.
“We are deeply concerned that this initial ruling — which has been concealed from the public — may result in Speakman being reinstated through a union grievance, which is unacceptable given the severity of the situation. The protest will continue to send a powerful message demanding transparency, accountability, and criminal charges for any wrongdoings. We call upon those in power to investigate Chief Baer and to get a copy of the initial ruling that Speakman will be using to get his job back.”
As the story continues to gain traction in the media and public interest remains high, pressure mounts on city officials to take swift action and address the concerns raised.
“The Circleville Police Department must address the serious allegations of mishandling and lack of transparency to ensure accountability and prevent similar incidents in the future,” said retired police chief Greg Jeffery.
The case has become a focal point for larger discussions about police accountability and transparency, highlighting the need for reform and unbiased oversight within law enforcement agencies after Ohio Governor Mike DeWine weighed in, along with White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.