The Ohio police officer who released a K-9 unit on an unarmed Black man has been fired.
Ryan Speakman was fired from the Circleville Police Department “effective immediately,” according to a department statement to CNN. He was terminated after a review of the incident found he “did not meet the standards and expectations we hold for our police officers."
Jadarrius Rose, a 23-year-old semi-truck driver, was stopped by Ohio State Highway Patrol earlier this week after they pursued him in a high-speed chase through several interstate highways. Rose was pursued because his tractor trailer was missing a mud flap, according to the redacted incident report filed by Ohio State Highway Patrol.
As he fled the authorities, Rose dialed 911. Phone recordings released by the Ross County Sherriff's office and obtained by CNN show that Rose was confused about why he was being pulled over, and that he feared for his life. When Rose finally stopped, he was repeatedly commanded to exit the car. He explained to the officers that he was on the phone with a 911 dispatcher.
Footage of the incident obtained by Scioto Valley Guardian shows that Rose received conflicting commands from police and state troopers. State troopers could be heard telling Rose to walk toward them. The CPD's canine unit approached as the events unfolded, and one officer yelled “Get your ass on the ground or you’re going to get bit!”
Another state trooper could be heard repeatedly instructing "Do not release the dog with his hands up," but Speakman deployed the dog on Rose anyway. The dog dragged Rose to the ground, biting him to the point where Rose had to be treated at the hospital.
Speakman was fired despite the ruling from the Circleville Police Use of Force Review Board that determined the department's “policy for the use of canines was followed in the apprehension and arrest,” according to ABC News.
“It’s important to understand that the Review Board is charged only with determining whether an employee’s actions in the use of force incident were within department policies and procedures,” the CPD said in a statement. “The Review Board does not have the authority to recommend discipline.”
