EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio — Newly-released body camera video gives us a better idea of what led to an indictment against several East Cleveland Police officers.
Officers Tyler Mundson, 30 and Brian Stoll, 31, were indicted on additional charges on Tuesday in connection with an attempted traffic stop and pursuit on March 31, 2022, the release states.
Mundson attempted to stop a 32-year-old man in East Cleveland and was joined in his pursuit by Stoll, 33-year-old Daniel Toomer and 32-year-old Kyle Wood, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley said. The pursuit ended near Galewood Avenue and Ingalton Avenue in Cleveland, and the 32-year-old victim was arrested on scene.
RELATED: 4 East Cleveland officers indicted for assaulting victims after traffic stops in March and April
During the pursuit, Wood initially reported that the victim hit the front of his cruiser. Body camera video would later show that Wood rammed the rear side of the victim’s vehicle, the news release states.
Body camera video from the arrest revealed that the victim had parked his vehicle, had both hands out the window and was complying with the officer's commands. According to the news release, Wood and Stoll then forcefully removed the victim from his vehicle and physically assaulted him by punching him and kneeing him in the head and torso while Mundson hand-cuffed him.
After the arrest, Wood falsely radioed dispatch and said that the victim had hit the front of his cruiser and was resisting arrest. Mundson’s report reflected this narrative, Prosecutor O’Malley stated.
When he was back at the police station, Stoll took the victim’s phone, which the victim had been using to attempt to record the incident, and smashed it multiple times, bending it and cracking the screen, the release states.
With today’s indictments, a total of nine East Cleveland Police officers, including the city’s police chief, have been charged for various alleged crimes since last August.
RELATED: East Cleveland police chief suspended after indictment for felony financial crimes
In a separate incident on April 10, Toomer tried to execute a traffic stop on a 25-year-old victim while driving in East Cleveland, the release states. Wood and Stoll were in another cruiser and Mundson was in a third cruiser. The pursuit ended near 152nd Street and Lakeshore Boulevard in Cleveland.
During the pursuit, officers initially reported that the victim hit Wood’s cruiser, causing him to spin out, according to O’Malley’s news release. Body camera video revealed that Wood was the one who hit the victim’s car, causing the crash. Video also showed that during the arrest, the victim had both hands up in the air and was not resisting the officers’ commands.
After the pursuit, Stoll forcefully removed the victim from the car, and Wood physically assaulted him, the release states. Stoll then forced the victim in the back of the police cruiser.
That’s when the victim called 911 from his phone after telling officers on the scene he needed medical attention, the release states. Cleveland EMS arrived on the scene, but the East Cleveland officers sent EMS away.
Cleveland Police also responded to the scene, but East Cleveland officers obstructed their attempt to see the victim’s injuries. CPD officers then called EMS in spite of the East Cleveland officers’ refusal, and the victim was ultimately taken to a nearby hospital for his injuries.
According to the release from the prosecutor's office:
Kyle Wood was indicted on the following charges:
- One count of Theft In Office
- One count of Tampering With Evidence
- One count of Assault
- Two counts of Interfering With Civil Rights
- Two counts of Dereliction Of Duty
- One count of Felonious Assault
- One count of Obstructing Justice
- Two counts of Telecommunications Fraud
Tyler Mundson was indicted on the following charges:
- One count of Theft In Office
- Two counts of Tampering With Evidence
- One count of Assault
- Two counts of Interfering With Civil Rights
- Two counts of Dereliction Of Duty
- One count of Obstructing Justice
Brian Stoll was indicted on the following charges:
- One count of Theft In Office
- One count of Tampering With Evidence
- Two counts of Assault
- Two counts of Interfering With Civil Rights
- Two counts of Dereliction Of Duty
- One count of Felonious Assault
- One count of Obstructing Justice
Daniel Toomer was indicted on the following charges:
- One count of Theft In Office
- One count of Tampering With Evidence
- One count of Assault
- One count of Interfering With Civil Rights
- One count of Dereliction Of Duty
- One count of Obstructing Justice
- One count of Tampering Records
- One count of Disrupting Public Service
Investigator Scott Noll reported on calls for the FBI to investigate the department last month:
RELATED: East Cleveland councilwoman calls for FBI investigation after more indictments
On Tuesday, the FBI has established a hotline to collect information from the public about potential corruption and civil rights violations in the City of East Cleveland, O’Malley stated in the news release. Anyone with information about the incidents for which the four officers were indicted on Tuesday, or any other potentially criminal matters involving the East Cleveland Police Department, is asked to call 216-583-5343 and leave your name, number and a brief description of the alleged criminal activities.
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