CANTON, Ohio — Community members filled Monday evening's city council meeting in Canton as a video involving officers from the Canton Police Department circulates online.
In a press release, Chief John Gabbard said officers were called to the 1800 block of Morris Avenue NE on August 24 around 8:30 p.m. for reports of an argument involving 10 to 15 people.
Police said there was also a report of gun violence in the area.
Part of what happened next is shown on the 24-second social media clip. News 5 does not currently have permission to show the video. In it, officers can be seen surrounding a group of men before a 21-year-old man is knocked to the ground.
In his press release, Chief Gabbard said, "Officers ordered the suspects to the ground and they appeared to be complying when Officer Brandon Momirov kicked Jaemiir McElroy in the chest."
Gabbard said the officer is under review.
The Canton Police Department has been made aware of a video circulating on social media involving an arrest in the 1800 Block of Morris Ave NE in which an individual was kicked by an officer. On August 24th, around 8:30 PM, a citizen reported an argument involving 10-15 individuals in the 1800 block of Morris Ave NE. Several officers responded, including detectives from the Coordinated Response Team, who had received intelligence related to gun violence in the Mahoning Manor complex. Multiple people fled from the scene and arriving officers engaged in two foot pursuits. One suspect was carrying a firearm that was plainly visible to the pursuing officer and the pursuit was discontinued without an apprehension. Officers responding to point of call encountered multiple additional suspects. Officers ordered the suspects to the ground and they appeared to be complying when Officer Brandon Momirov kicked Jaemiier McElroy (M/21) in the chest. All suspects were taken into custody. Officers recovered two Glock 9mm pistols on the scene. A backpack containing a large amount of marijuana, currency and scales was recovered in a nearby vehicle. The actions of Officer Momirov are currently under review.
Bobby DiCello, legal counsel McElroy, said in a statement, "It is time for the City of Canton to wake up and realize that its police department is attacking its own citizens and treating them as enemy combatants rather than citizens."
The family of Jaemiir McElroy are sickened by the senseless and cruel acts of violence that Jaemiir endured on Saturday.
It should not be lost on anyone that after officers attacked him and hospitalized him, they issued charges which find no support in the video. One of those charges, resisting arrest, is not justified by the video: Jaemiir is on his knees with his hands in the air when he is kicked in the head by an officer who charges at him.
The family is resolved to get justice for Jaemiir.
We remain committed to holding these officers accountable.
Saturday's incident is the third recent case involving a controversial response from Canton Police.
In April, Frank Tyson died while in custody of Canton Police. One of Tyson's brothers spoke Monday evening.
"It's time for this s—- to stop. You don't give a f—-," said Melvin Tyson during the city council meeting.
Residents like Daniel Gates also expressed their feelings on the recent incidents. "I'm tired of brutality, I'm tired of violence, and I'm tired of not having peace," said Gates.
Resident Veronica Early said, "They keep killing us, beating us, destroying our community."
The Canton Mayor's Office declined an interview with News 5 but started Monday's meeting with a statement. "Eight months as mayor an I knew what I signed up for, but I didn't sign up for this," said Mayor William Sherer II. "This will be handled."
Mayor Sherer described the behavior demonstrated in the social media video as "not acceptable."
"I'm tired of seeing it. It is about action. [It] will not be tolerated by any department in the city, including Canton PD. I want to also reiterate that I have total faith in Police Chief Gabbard and his ability to lead our police department. It is very unfortunate that situations like this reflect on our entire department and situations like this will be handled."
News 5 contacted the Canton Police Department for an interview but did not hear back. We've requested more information regarding the officer's employment status as well as body camera footage of the incident.
Williemena Jackson spoke with News 5 following Monday night's City Council meeting.
She said she was disheartened by the video circulating social media and she felt traumatized having to watch it.
"That's trauma. Why do I gotta keep dealing with this trauma that don't need to be? If you trying to move Canton forward, we ain't moving forward. We dragging our feet and we're gonna make sure we continue to drag our feet. This ain't forward," said Jackson.
Jackson said for videos as such to stop going viral, the Canton Police Department needs better training.
"If we need to change the players and to change the seats, then that's what we need to do as a community. We need to re-evaluate this stuff because if it's there and it's not working, why can't we re redo it? Why can't we make it better?Why can't we strengthen it?," asked Jackson. "Not all of these officers are bad. We just want fairness. We just want justice and we just want action. I ain't saying abolish the police but just make it better. Seven bodies in these last couple of years. It's a problem."
Jackson added she understands Canton being a heavily poverty stricken city adds to the crime, but feels like if the residents were listened to more often, it wouldn't be as much of a problem.
"When you continue to bring hatred here, you giving people with other values another way," she said. "Not all y'all are bad but all y'all keep watching on the sidelines when a lot of this stuff is happening. You're complicit. Just talk to us. I get it. It's stressful. You're in danger. I get it — mental health. I get it. We all have the same issues but treat me as a human. I'm not a threat.
My skin color shouldn't be no threat."
"Keep me on your prayer list and not the FBI list," stated Jackson.
