Columbus police pepper spraying OSU fans on a sidewalk
This week we covered the
over-the-top police tactics the Columbus Police Department used to disperse college students celebrating Ohio State Buckeye's national championship victory. From that article:
Of course the police needed to clear the streets, but sending in riot police and indiscriminately pepper spraying, tear gassing, and using horses to charge students? Even the videographer from the Columbus Dispatch appears to get a full dose of pepper spray. As you watch the video, you see the students go from excitement to rage as police deployed their over-the-top reaction.
Today, representatives from the
Cleveland Plain Dealer/
Northeast Ohio Media Group are demanding an
apology and considering a lawsuit:
"This is an unacceptable attack on an innocent journalist and the First Amendment," Quinn stated in the letter, sent to Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs and copied to Mayor Michael Coleman. "He posed no threat to the officer and obviously was performing his duties as a journalist, documenting the behavior of your officers and the students."
Quinn wrote that he is consulting with attorneys about seeking a criminal investigation; he and Kuntz are also discussing a possible civil lawsuit against the city.
Being on the sidewalk, as directed by police, didn't stop fans from being pepper sprayed. And being on the job as a professional journalist didn't stop John Kuntz and other credentialed media from taking direct spray to the face, as seen in the video below, beginning around the 30 second mark:
The videographer from the
Columbus Dispatch was sprayed in the above video:
Doral Chenoweth III, a veteran producer and videographer for The Dispatch’s website, was among those hurt by tear gas and pepper spray. He said the students surrounding him in front of the Ohio Union were jubilant but nonviolent.
“They were just there to have a good time and celebrate and go ‘O-H-I-O,’ ” he said.
Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs said they will be investigating the use of pepper spray:
“Based on a few images, including this one, I want you to initiate an investigation into the use of (pepper) spray on civilians that were apparently lawfully standing on sidewalks and apparently not in violation of law,” Jacobs wrote.
She noted that “conditions were difficult” after the game but also said the Police Division needs to address all concerns about possible misconduct.