Tensions ran high last week in Over-the-Rhine after witnesses alleged that Cincinnati Police used excessive force in arresting 19-year old Charles Antonio Brooks.
"It's a tinderbox," said the Rev. Damon Lynch III, pastor of New Prospect Baptist Church and a candidate for city council.
At Green and Republic streets at approximately 3:45 p.m. Oct. 9, officers David Gregory, John Heine and Sean Woods stopped Brooks and another unidentified suspect after witnessing Brooks making a drug deal, according to police. As Brooks attempted to walk away, Gregory grabbed his clothing and ordered him to stop. Gregory and Woods struggled with Brooks in an attempt to subdue him.
During the struggle, Gregory sprayed a chemical irritant in Brooks' face, according to police reports. Woods allegedly discovered that Brooks had a 9-millimeter handgun in his right hand. Woods advised the other officers and Gregory drew his firearm and ordered the suspect to drop his weapon.
Police said that although the gun was recovered, Brooks still continued to resist. The police report Woods then struck Brooks was five or six times with a closed fist and used a knee strike in the suspect's right side. In addition to recovering a small amount of marijuana, police charged Brooks with resisting arrest, carrying a concealed weapon and obstructing official business.
During the struggle, a crowd of about 50 residents had formed. Police officers and some witnesses report bottles were thrown at the officers while the arrest was underway. Three other people were charged in connection with the incident.
But the official reports from police and reports from eyewitnesses at the scene differ wildly. Rodney Beamon, 17, stated that he saw more than one police officer repeatedly hit Brooks.
"One had his arm and another had his knees in his back," Beamon said. "Another one was punching him. As one officer was hitting (Brooks), (the officer) dropped his gun, picked it up and told the crowd to 'back the fuck up, niggers."
Other onlookers also said they witnessed one of the officers drop his firearm, retrieve it and draw it on the crowd.
"He could have shot anybody," said Felicia Williams. "He dropped his gun, picked it up and said, 'Back the fuck up, niggers, or I'll shoot all of you black motherfuckers.'" Williams said that she and her 4-year old child began to run, as did many in the crowded intersection.
Diondre Brady, 23, said that the only guns he saw were those held by police.
"If a gun was on him (Brooks) then we should have seen someone take the gun, bag it and tag it," he said. "I didn't see any of this happen."
After the four suspects were apprehended, they were taken away from the scene to the Kentucky Fried Chicken parking lot on Liberty Street.
"I overheard an officer say, 'It's too hot over here, so let's take them around the corner -- we'll book them from there,' " Brady said. "Those were his exact words before he pulled off."
Lynch responded to the scene to gather the witnesses to meet with civil rights attorney Kenneth Lawson. The information gathered was to be used to lodge formal complaints with the Civilian Complaint Authority. The CCA was formed last year in the settlement of a racial profiling lawsuit against the city.
Last week's incident will be an opportunity to see if the collaborative agreement on police reform is effective, according to Lynch.
"This is a good time to put the collaborative to the test," he said.
Capt. James Whalen, commander of Cincinnati Police District One, said he hasn't received information on the allegations made by the eyewitnesses on the scene.
"We've not received any complaints regarding this," he said.
The incident points to serious problems in police-community relations, according to Juleana Frierson, chief of staff for the Black United Front.
"Nothing's changed as far as we're concerned," she said. "The community is saying one thing, the police is saying another. We're going to let the process established within the collaborative agreement take place. Community problem-oriented policing needs to be fully established." ©
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