The City of Circleville, Ohio, has agreed to financial settlements with a former police officer and a truck driver following a controversial incident from July 4, 2023, where a police K-9 was released on the truck driver despite his surrender.
What happened: Jaddarius Rose, the truck driver, was pursued by law enforcement for not stopping during a traffic stop for missing a mudflap. The chase ended with Rose outside his truck with his hands up. Although Rose was complying with officers, a police K-9 was released and bit him, necessitating hospitalization for the injuries.
- Rose will receive a $250,000 settlement from the city.
- Former officer Ryan Speakman, who was involved in the release of the K-9, will be given $40,000 and be allowed to voluntarily resign with the termination record deleted from his file.
- Rose was initially charged with felony fleeing, which was later dropped due to insufficient evidence.
Local reaction: While monetary compensation has been agreed upon, Nana Watson, President of the Columbus branch of the NAACP, voiced concern that no sum could erase the trauma inflicted upon Rose in the incident.
Legal developments: The contentious decisions surrounding the event will undergo further examination at an arbitration hearing scheduled for February 21, reported 10TV.
The Circleville Police Department criticized the actions taken during the incident, claiming Speakman's behavior failed to reflect the professional standards expected of their officers.