CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A recently obtained body cam video has raised serious concerns about police conduct and racial disparities in law enforcement following a large altercation last month on East Second Street in Chillicothe. The May 14 incident, involving multiple officers and agencies, has led to several arrests and intense scrutiny of police actions.
Officers were dispatched to a neighborhood dispute that escalated into a violent confrontation. According to police reports, the initial conflict began when neighbors argued over a parking issue. Reports indicate that the altercation started when a man poured water on a neighbor and then punched a 17-year-old girl who confronted him. Despite the violent nature of the man’s actions, responding officers told the family that no charges would be filed against him, which led to further confrontations.
Family and friends of the teen demanded the arrest of the man, but were told by officers that the teen might instead be the one arrested. When the teen’s father tried to confront the neighbor, an officer used pepper spray on him before arresting him. The family’s reaction to what they saw as an unjust arrest led to a physical altercation with the police.
Body cam footage, however, reveals a different story. It shows several officers escalating the situation with aggressive actions. One African American bystander asked an officer if he planned to shoot anyone, to which the officer responded with profanity and a provocative gesture with his firearm. During the melee, another African American male was violently taken to the ground and punched repeatedly by officers. He was later transported to Adena Regional Medical Center.
The video contradicts some of the police reports stating that officers’ attempts to de-escalate were met with resistance. Instead, it shows some officers as the aggressors, using physical force to control the crowd. This incident is the latest in a series of allegations against the Chillicothe Police Department regarding excessive force and racial bias.
Arrested:
OJ Netter, 48: Resisting arrest, and obstruction.
Quinlan Netter, 19: Resisting arrest, and obstruction.
James Wingo, 49: Resisting arrest, and obstruction.
Jayce Wingo, 21: Resisting arrest, obstruction, strangulation, and assault of a police officer.
Juvenile, 17: Resisting arrest, obstruction, and assault on a police officer.
The Guardian previously reported on an incident involving two female officers who allegedly assaulted an African American child during an arrest. In a separate case, a 16-year-old was violently taken to the ground for smoking a vape. The video from that incident shows an officer kneeling on the back of the teen’s neck. These incidents have fueled concerns about systemic issues within the department.
Observers have highlighted the disparity in police treatment of minority communities, suggesting that interactions with minorities escalate more quickly and result in harsher enforcement. The handling of the East Second Street incident, particularly the physical confrontations, has intensified calls for accountability.
All parties involved in the incident face charges ranging from obstructing official business to resisting arrest and assault on a police officer. The Chillicothe Police Department has not released an official statement addressing the allegations of excessive force or the broader issues of racial disparities in their enforcement actions.
This controversy adds to the department’s troubled history. A former Chillicothe Police officer filed a federal lawsuit against the Chief of Police and the department, alleging racial discrimination. That case is still pending in federal court.