Elyria police release bodycam footage showing arrest of 15-year-old girl at Juneteenth celebration
By: -----
Elyria, OH - An arrest following a Juneteenth celebration in downtown Elyria is raising questions about police use of force after videos of the incident circulated widely on social media.
The incident happened Saturday in Ely Square following a Juneteenth celebration, and video shared online appeared to show officers detaining a young girl as a crowd gathers around them. On Monday, Elyria police shared more details about what led up to the encounter along with body camera footage of the arrest, and also confirmed one officer has been placed on leave after video showed him using what Elyria's police chief described as "a top-mounted position" where he "applied pressure with his shin to the upper back and neck area of the juvenile."
The events began at roughly 5:09 p.m. Saturday, when police officers on bicycles in the square say they were attempting to quell an argument between two people. One of those two involved, a 14-year-old boy, was accused of swearing and "creating a condition that officers believed presented a risk of inconvenience, annoyance, alarm, or physical harm to others present."
After being detained and charged with disorderly conduct, the boy was released into the custody of his mother. That's when authorities say the boy's 15-year-old sister confronted the officers and "refuse(d) repeated lawful commands."
The bodycam footage released Monday shows the girl repeatedly yelling at the officers, "That's my little brother!" as a crowd gathers around. As she continues to scream, others attempt to hold her back while one officer tells her, "You're about to go next!" Eventually, that officer orders one of his colleagues to "hook her," meaning place her in handcuffs.
As the girl keeps yelling and onlookers try to shield her, multiple officers restrain her and attempt to get her into custody. As they are about to put her in handcuffs, that's when yet another officer quickly comes into frame and jumps on the girl, appearing to put his knee near her head and neck area. The crowd then erupts into a frenzy, and one adult male is seen being detained on video.
According to Welsh, the 15-year-old girl was taken to the Lorain County Juvenile Detention Home and faces the following charges:
* Harassment by inmate (fifth-degree felony)
* Obstructing official business (second-degree misdemeanor)
* Resisting arrest (second-degree misdemeanor)
* Criminal mischief (third-degree misdemeanor)
* Disorderly conduct (fourth-degree misdemeanor)
In addition, 39-year-old Marcus Dowdell was arrested on charges of assaulting a police officer along with two misdemeanors and was taken to the Lorain County Jail. A 48-year-old woman was also charged with a pair of misdemeanors.