Paraplegic man dragged from car by his hair by cops who investigated

Clifford Owensby of Dayton, Ohio, discovered the American police state's willingness to go to violent and oppressive lengths to enforce window tint extortion laws. Owensby, who had done no crime, was singled out by police, attacked, and then escorted away due to the arbitrarily dark tint on his window tint. Days later, police revealed body camera video demonstrating exactly how nasty they are ready to be over the blackness of a man's windows — his skin as well.

Owensby filed a complaint with the Dayton Police Department's (DPD) Professional Standards Bureau, which opened an investigation in October. Now, after three months of "investigating," police have concluded that officers committed no wrongdoing.

The investigation's report concluded that Owensby's allegations that officers threatened him with violence and mocked him were "unfounded," despite the fact that their violence was captured on video.

Although the officer's "pulling of Mr. Owensby's hair may have been aesthetically objectionable to some, the hair tugging was on the low end of the force spectrum and did not result in harm," investigators said. "Mr. Owensby was transported to Grandview Medical Center, where it was determined that he had sustained no injuries in the incident."

Despite turning off their body cameras and mocking Owensby, which was captured on a supervisor's body camera, the officers faced no discipline. The investigators did, however, recommend additional training because there is no policy in place that addresses "the most effective method of transporting a disabled subject," according to the review.

"I am always in favour of additional training," Owensby's attorney, James Willis, stated. However, he believes the policemen should have been sacked in this situation.

"I believe that the officers should be terminated," Willis stated. "They are utterly inept."

Mayor Jeffrey J. Mims said in a statement Tuesday that people "should be treated with decency and respect, and I am aware that the interaction between (Owensby) and Dayton Police fell short of that standard."

Indeed, the incident's body camera footage is nothing short of revolting.

Owensby's nightmare began while he was out with his grandson running errands. While Owensby was driving along the street, causing no damage, he was targeted by police for extortion due to his window tint being set at 20%. Both body camera and smartphone video were used to record the exchange.

As seen in the video, an officer approaches the vehicle and informs the innocent parent that his window tint is too dark, before subsequently insisting that he vacate the vehicle so a drug dog can detect it.

Owensby then claimed to the officer that he was unable to exit the vehicle because he was missing his wheelchair and had had assistance getting in.

"I'm paraplegic," Owensby states again. "I was assisted in entering."

"Well, I'll assist you in exiting," the officer responds.

"I don't believe that will happen, sir," Owensby responds.

The officer then informs Owensby that they would be running a drug dog around his vehicle — since Owensby has already been arrested — and uses this threat as the last straw. Owensby then summons a family member to come down and videotape the encounter.

"Bring cameras," he instructed his phone before requesting assistance from a supervisor.

"Here's the deal; I'm going to extract you and then summon a white shirt. "Because you're exiting the vehicle," the officer said. "That is not a viable choice. You're getting out of this car, so cooperate and exit the vehicle, or I'll drag you out. Are you aware of your two choices here?"

Moments later, as seen on film, Owensby is pulled from the vehicle by his hair and tossed to the ground like a rag doll – all because of window tint.

Due to the absence of drugs or contraband, cops appeared to fabricate charges to justify their treatment of Owensby. He was penalised for placing his youngster in the incorrect car seat and for illegal window tinting.

"To drag this man out of his car by his hair — a paraplegic — is completely unacceptable, inhumane, and reflects poorly on our great city of Dayton, Ohio," NAACP President Derrick L. Foward told the Washington Post.

The police union disagreed at the time and backed the policemen into removing this father from his vehicle during the stop. And they are sure to feel justified today.

"The officers acted in accordance with the law, their training, and departmental rules and procedures," said Jerome Dix, president of Dayton Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #44. "While arresting noncompliant individuals is not always pleasant, it is a necessary part of law enforcement in order to maintain public safety, which is one of our society's fundamental ideologies."