CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Recent revelations have shed light on a concerning use of force incident involving officers in Chillicothe,, where officers remain on duty despite their actions during the arrest of a couple for petty theft back in February. The severity of the incident came to public attention after the Guardian obtained footage through a public records request, raising serious questions about police conduct.
The incident unfolded at a local farm store, where a man and woman from Ross County were apprehended for allegedly stealing pocket knives. Identified as Ronald Anderson, Sr., and Tawyna Mosley, the couple was placed under arrest and put together in the back of a city police car to be transported to the county jail.
However, upon arrival at the jail, Anderson managed to escape his handcuffs using a concealed handcuff key, which he had hidden in his mouth. He had threatened to take Mosley hostage, sparking a tense standoff with law enforcement officers.
In response, officers intervened, with a corrections officer from the Ross County Sheriff’s Office deploying a taser to subdue Anderson. However, the situation escalated further as Officer Jeremy Conley from the Chillicothe Police Department forcibly removed Anderson’s eyeglasses and violently threw them across the sally port. Another officer, identified as Sergeant Casey Cox, made derogatory remarks, calling Anderson a pedophile and making crude comments by telling Anderson he could perform oral sex in prison. Anderson is on the state’s sex offender registry.
Further escalating the situation, Officer Conley forcefully pushed Anderson against the cage of the police car, a controversial move known internally as a “waffle,” purportedly done to harm a prisoner under the guise of an accident.
Both Anderson and Mosley were eventually booked on several charges, including theft, obstruction, domestic violence, and escape. Upon entering the jail, the handcuff key was discovered concealed in Anderson’s mouth.
Despite the nature of the incident, all officers involved remain on duty at the Chillicothe Police Department. The Guardian’s request for comment from the police department has gone unanswered.
The incident comes to light just a week after officers were filmed on bodycam video ripping a Chillicothe man off his porch for playing loud music.