Police in South Euclid and Euclid are investigating an officer-involved shooting occurred over the weekend with connections to both departments.
The incident happened in the city of Euclid, but according to a police report, the shot was fired by a South Euclid K-9 police officer.
It started when a Euclid officer tried to pull over a vehicle at an apartment complex on Sidney Drive around 1 p.m. Saturday for having windows that were tinted too dark.
According to a Euclid police report, a man stopped the car, pulled a gun out of his waistband, tossed it into the car, then took off running.
Shortly after, Euclid Police called South Euclid Police for backup, knowing they have a K-9 that could track the suspect.
The man was discovered just one street over hiding in a garbage can at a home on Tungsten Avenue.
According to the report, the suspect did not listen to several commands from police to show his hands, and continued to hide in the garbage can.
Euclid police said the suspect then yelled, “I’ve been shot.”
According to Euclid’s police report, the suspect, Dashawn Motley, 22, was shot in the right arm by a South Euclid police officer.
He was treated, then arrested and charged with carrying a concealed weapon. Court records reveal Motley has a history of felony weapons charges and convictions.
South Euclid Police released body-camera video Friday morning from the K-9 officer who fired the single shot.
According to police, the officer forgot to turn on his body camera when he exited the car to begin the K-9 track.
His body-camera footage shows the moments after the shooting occurred. It shows officers administering first aid and making a tourniquet on the man's arm.
The suspect is also heard saying that he had his hands up, to which officers respond that he did not.
South Euclid Police started wearing body cameras in 2014. According to the police chief, all officers have been issued one. According to department policy, "officers shall activate the BWC to record all contacts with citizens in the performance of official duties."
The policy further states that "if an officer fails to activate the BWC, record the entire contact, or interrupts the recording, the officer shall document why a recording was not made, interrupted, or terminated."
The K-9 handler who fired the shot is on paid leave, per department policy, while the investigation continues.
The Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office both told News 5 they were not notified of this incident by South Euclid Police. However, it is not a requirement for police departments to report officer-involved shooting incidents to BCI or the sheriff's office. While it is not mandatory, most do so that an outside agency can investigate.
