Officials Launch Investigation After Video Shows Police Dragging Paraplegic Man Out of Car

The Professional Standards Bureau of the Dayton Police Department has launched an investigation after police body camera footage showed two Ohio officers dragging a paraplegic man out of his car during a traffic stop.

Per outlets including WKEF and The Dayton Daily News, on September 30, officers approached Clifford Owensby on the 1200 block of West Grand Avenue. Owensby later told WHIO that he was pulled over because the tint of his windows was too dark.

As seen in the 11-minute police body camera footage, the two officers obtain Owensby’s license and information. The video shows one officer test the tint on the glass of the vehicle and then sees a child in the backseat of the vehicle and not in a car seat.

Per Revolt, the cops also came across Owensby’s past records of alleged drug use and asked him to step out of the vehicle, reportedly to conduct a free air smell test.

However, Owensby refused, telling officers, “I’m paraplegic. I got help getting in.”

“Well, I’ll help you get out,” the officer replied.

“No, you’re not. No, you’re not. You don’t touch me. You’re definitely not about to touch me,” Owensby later said. Owensby also threatened to file a lawsuit and requested that the officers’ superior be called to the scene.

“Here’s the thing, I’m going to pull you out and then I’ll call a white shirt,” the officer responded. “Because you’re getting out of the car. That’s not an option. You’re getting out this car, so you can cooperate and get out of the car or I will drag you out of the car. Do you see your two options here?”

As seen in the footage, the cop then grabs the man’s arm, while another cop also grabs the man’s arm. As they drag him out of the vehicle, one of the cops is seen grabbing Owensby by his hair.

Owensby was ultimately cited in Dayton Municipal Court with traffic citations for child restraint or seat belt, and tinted glass.

Though a police report obtained by The Dayton Daily News accuses Owensby of misdemeanor obstructing official business and misdemeanor resisting arrest, he has not been charged with either count.

Owensby also told The Dayton Daily News that he was injured during the incident, having sustained scrapes from the pavement and is still in pain. He also said that a previous back injury was reinjured.

“I feel like they don’t even respect me as a citizen,” Owensby told the outlet.

In response, the police department says that the incident was part of a drug investigation and traffic stop.

While Owensby told the Dayton Daily News that there were no drugs or firearms inside his vehicle, Dayton police said $22,450 was recovered from the vehicle that a narcotic canine alerted on.

In response to the outrage that the video has garnered, Dayton Police says its professional standards bureau has launched an investigation.

“The investigation will include the review of any policies and training when encountering these situations. Detectives from the Professional Standards Bureau have already interviewed the driver in the video,” they said in a statement.

“We ask the public to please be patient while all of the facts are gathered so we may have a clear understanding of what occurred and why in order to make informed decisions and continue to improve services.”