ROSS COUNTY, OHIO — The man who was mauled by a Circleville K9 dog while complying with law enforcement had called 911 moments before saying he was afraid he was going to be killed.
The Guardian was the first to break the story earlier this week that Jadarrius Rose, 23, of Memphis, Tenn., was involved in a pursuit while driving a semi with law enforcement back on July 4. The Guardian covered the pursuit in real-time as it was happening, but it was not until earlier this 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 attack
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.
The Circleville Police Department, along with the town’s mayor released a written statement on Friday that said an excessive force review was underway of the attack and that the findings would be issued next week. That is contradictory to an email exchange the Guardian had previously with Chief Shawn Baer, where it was said the use of force investigation was completed with a finding of no wrongdoing. Bizarrely, the city, through the chief and mayor now claim a “use of force review board” has been impaneled to go over the incident. The city refuses to confirm if Speakman remains on the job during the alleged review, however, the department’s dispatch center and social media has been inundated with people from all over the globe upset about the events that unfolded. So much so that officers and dispatchers have been provided a script to read to those who call or stop by the department about the matter.
The 911 call
The pursuit all started after Rose, who was driving a Western Express semi truck refused to pull over for a Department of Transportation inspection by the Highway Patrol; more commonly known as a “weight violation.” It snaked at normal speeds up route 23, with Rose using his turn signals as he changed lanes. Once several troopers got behind the semi, Rose pulled over in the area of route 23, just north of Chillicothe. In dashcam video, troopers are seen conducting a routine “felony stop” on the semi, where they have their guns drawn as a precaution. The drawing of guns has historically been protocol for law enforcement after a pursuit until apprehension of the driver is finished.
Rose puts the semi back in drive and takes off again. While doing so, he called 9-1-1 in Ross County to tell dispatchers he was afraid to stop again because he thought he was going to be killed.
“I don’t know why they got their guns drawn out … I pulled over for them, they have their guns pulled out … I don’t have weapons … I don’t know what they are doing. I don’t even know why they are pulling me over …,” Rose tells a dispatcher. “I don’t know why they are trying to kill me … they’re throwing stuff on the ground trying to explode the tires … I’ll stop, but I don’t know why they did this … I’m trying to figure out why they have their guns out … they are all white and there are like 20 police cars behind me and I don’t feel safe … they had their guns out and I’m just one person.”
The dispatcher told Rose that he was not going to be killed and that he should pullover to avoid more trouble for himself. Seconds later, the phone goes dead. Rose stopped the pursuit and surrendered. That’s when the K9 attack happened.
Where things stand now
Circleville Police will not confirm to the media if Speakman is still working the streets during the supposed-review; a review that was completed once already that cleared him of wrongdoing, but has since been reignited after worldwide outrage.
Rose was charged with failing to comply with a police officer. Ross County Prosecutor Jeff Marks has told the Columbus Dispatch that more charges for Rose are likely and that the K9 attack would not have any weight on the prosecution of Rose for the chase. Rose was released on bond and awaits trial and possibly additional indictments.
The Department of Justice released a statement to the Guardian saying that they were aware of the K9 attack but could not release anything at this time. The words “at this time” were bolded in their statement, alluding that something later would be released. Equally, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s office said he, too, was aware of the incident, but could not comment further.
