A video released on social media over the weekend shows Canton, Ohio, police surrounding a man kneeling on the ground with his hands raised before an officer unexpectedly sprints up and kicks him in the chest, knocking him down.
The Canton Police Department identified the man as 21-year-old Jaemiier McElroy and the officer who booted him as Brandon Momirov.
According to the statement, officers responded to allegations of an argument on Saturday night. Multiple people fled when police arrived, including a person accused of carrying a pistol, according to the statement, which added suspects “appeared to be complying when Officer Brandon Momirov kicked Jaemiier McElroy… in the chest.”
McElroy was rushed to the hospital and is in “a lot of pain,” according to his attorney, Bobby DiCello.
Police claimed Momirov is still working and his activities are being investigated. Momirov did not immediately return requests for comment.
According to the police report, McElroy and two other males were arrested on charges of “obstructing official business” and resisting arrest.
“Our officers frequently face stressful, dangerous situations and confrontations with armed suspects,” Police Chief John Gabbard stated. “Their dedication to the community has resulted in exceptional reductions in violence, especially gun violence, over the past two years.”
DiCello described the comment as “laughable.”
He claimed he’s investigating six examples of suspected police violence involving Canton cops. According to DiCello, three of the individuals in those circumstances died, while three others, including McElroy, were gravely injured. All six occurrences have occurred since January 1, 2022, spanning the two years Gabbard mentioned.
The first death was that of James Williams, 46, who fired celebratory gunfire from his yard on New Year’s Day 2022 before being shot and killed by a Canton police officer. A grand jury declined to indict the officer.
Then there was Zachary Fornash, 24, who was accused of using a pellet pistol. Body camera footage showed Fornash turning to face officers just before being shot. He died on the spot.
Frank Tyson, 53, died in police custody in April of this year after repeatedly telling cops “I can’t breathe,” evoking memories of the Minneapolis police shooting of George Floyd. The coroner’s office declared his death a homicide.
In May, a Canton cop unleashed a K-9 German shepherd on Kieven Conver, who was already face down and restrained by other officers following a traffic check. The video captured the dog munching on Conver for nearly 20 seconds. The officer responsible for deploying the dog was fired.
When a man attempted to halt a dog attack, cops arrested him, assaulted him, and called him horrible names, according to DiCello.
Despite several requests for comment on the occurrences, Canton police have not answered.
“There’s a group of people in Canton that are law enforcement officers who are treating ordinary civilians like enemy combatants,” DiCello told the crowd.
Canton, located around 60 miles south of Cleveland, has a population of approximately 70,000.
According to DiCello, the number of violent police incidents has increased dramatically since 2022.
“If this was in another context, you’d say that’s a crime spree,” he was explaining.
