An Ohio police officer kicked a 21-year-old man while he was kneeling on the ground with his hands up, a shocking arrest video shows.
Jaemiier McElroy, 21, fell backwards after Officer Brandon Momirov’s foot struck his head on Saturday.
Police were responding to reports of an argument in the parking lot of Mahoning Manor. When Momirov ran to the scene, McElroy was surrounded by police with his hands up and on his knees.
Guangzhou police said the young man “appeared to be compliant” after being ordered to get on the ground when the violent attack occurred, according to WKYC.
McElroy was taken to the hospital in “a lot of pain,” with severe swelling in his neck and face and a concussion, said his attorney, Bobby DiCello. NBC News.
The young man, who was traumatised by the incident, was charged with resisting arrest. Two other men were also arrested on suspicion of “obstructing official business” and resisting arrest.
Jaemiier McElroy, 21, (pictured kneeling) fell backward after Officer Brandon Momirov’s foot struck his head on Saturday.
Guangzhou police said the young man “appeared to be compliant” after being ordered to get on the ground when the violent attack occurred.
According to NBC News, two pistols and a backpack containing marijuana, scales and money were recovered at the scene.
Body camera footage shows Momirov running toward a scene of screaming men, not slowing down once before kicking McElroy.
Later in the video, as the others were being detained, one asked: ‘What are you kicking my brother like that for? Is that crazy?’
The officer responded, ‘How many times did I tell you to get on the ground? It’s not malicious, just get on the ground.’
Another officer off-screen says: “If you don’t want to listen, that’s fine, but don’t be surprised when we get our hands on you.”
DiCello insisted that McElroy was not even part of the group.
McElroy (pictured) was taken to hospital in “a lot of pain”, has severe swelling to his neck and face and suffered a concussion.
“I think it’s a failure of leadership at every level,” DiCello told NBC News. “City leadership needs to do something about this. They need to take swift and decisive action.”
“They must, absolutely must, fire that officer.”
Canton Police Chief John Gabbard said the officer will be “held accountable” for “using force outside the parameters of our training.”
But DiCello doesn’t believe that, saying “there is a group of people in Canton who are law enforcement officers who treat ordinary civilians like enemy combatants.”
He also noted that several of his clients have faced violent police interactions since 2022.
“If this were any other context, you would say it’s a crime wave,” he told NBC News.
The community was outraged by the video and Canton Mayor William Sherer II said he “understands.”[s] The community is seeking answers and the need for immediate action.’
The young man, who was traumatized by the incident, was charged with resisting arrest. Two pistols and a backpack with marijuana, scales and money were recovered at the scene.
“However, there are protocols that need to be followed,” he said, according to WKYC.
‘I want to reiterate that the behavior seen in the video is unacceptable. This behavior will not be tolerated. It is unfortunate that we continue to have these occurrences that reflect on our entire police department.’
Hector McDaniel, president of the Stark County NAACP, said he was “shocked” and “alarmed” by the video and “very disappointed in the police work in the community.”
He blames the police for going “too far to the left,” especially in Canton, and said they will focus on solutions that provide “assistance in terms of aligning the police with the written mission and goals that they already have.”
Cantonal chief adviser Kevin L’Hommedieu said the city is working on creating a board to deal with these issues.
The board would meet quarterly and will consist of seven people appointed by the mayor to review the Canton Police Department’s Internal Affairs Bureau. McDaniel will be one of the people on the board, according to WKYC.
