Attorney for Mansfield man body-slammed by cop says officer broke the law
By: Mansfield, OH - Mansfield Police Chief Jason Bammann said Thursday an officer has been cleared of any wrongdoing in the April 22 arrest of a Bowman Street man injured during the incident.
Bammann issued an emailed statement after Cleveland 19 News released a two-part report about a 67-year-old man whom Mansfield Police Officer Michael Nelson stopped outside a closed business just before 1 a.m. at the corner of West Fourth and Bowman streets.
During the incident, Charles Roberts was asked to show his hands and did not comply with officers' requests. Roberts tried to buy a soda from a vending machine outside the business when the officer pulled up, telling Roberts he had jay-walked, according to the news report.
Nelson, who joined the department in 2023, took the man to the ground of the paved parking lot, as the TV station showed in bodycam video it obtained from Mansfield police. The News Journal made a public records request Thursday for copies of bodycam video of the incident.
Bammann said in a statement that the department conducted a thorough internal review, including a detailed examination of bodycam footage, witness statements and compliance with departmental policies, and determined that "Officer Nelson's actions were consistent with the training and protocols provided to all officers of the Mansfield Division of Police."
Bammann said, "The use of force in this incident, I deemed appropriate given the circumstances and in full alignment with established policies and procedures.
"It is important to emphasize that the use of force was not a reponse to the offense of jaywalking. Rather, it was a direct result of Mr. Roberts' actions during the encounter. To descrive the incident as 'body-slamming for jaywalking' is inacurrate and misleading, as it fails to reflect the reality of the situation and instead creates an exagerated narrative," Bammann said.
Bammann argued compliance would have "prevented the necessity of any physical intervention."
"The escalation occurred soley because of Mr. Roberts' resistance to lawful commands," he said.
Upon approaching Roberts, an officer asked to see his hands, but Roberts was hesitant, according to the police report. When officers explaiend the reason for the stop, Charles said, "That's bull****."
Officers gave several commands for Charles to turn around and place his hands above his head so he could be checked for weapons based on his behavior, which he refused, according to the police report.
A short struggle ensued and Roberts was placed under arrest. He complained of rib pain and asked for medical assistance. Mansfield fire and EMS personnel arrived on scene, and Roberts was transported to OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital by Sgt. Telquist and left in the care of hospital staff, where he was served a copy of his summons.
Roberts was initially charged with obstructing official business, crossing outside a crosswalk and resisting arrest. He was found guilty Aug. 5 during a bench trial in Mansfield Municipal Court for crossing outside a crosswalk, and he was fined $25 and no costs. The other two charges were dismissed, according to court records.