“They dragged me to their vehicle like a dog, like trash,” Clifford Owensby, 39, recalled at a information convention Sunday.
Owensby accused the Dayton Police Department (DPD) of profiling, illegal arrest, unlawful search and seizure, and failure to learn him his rights earlier than being taken to jail, Dayton Unit NAACP President Derrick Forward mentioned on the information convention.
Officers known as for a Narcotics Detection Ok-9 unit as a result of they noticed Owensby go away a suspected drug home within the space that they’d been monitoring, Dayton Police Major Brian Johns mentioned in a recorded briefing. He added that based mostly on his previous felony drug and weapons historical past coupled with their commentary that he had left the residence in query, the officers requested a narcotics Detection Ok-9 to conduct a free-air sniff on the automobile.
“Dayton Police Department policy requires the occupants of the vehicle to exit for their own safety and safety of the K-9 officer to perform this free-air sniff,” Johns mentioned.
According to the video, shortly after the radio name, one of the officers returns to Owensby, who’s within the driver’s seat, and asks him to step out.
Owensby refuses, then tells the officer he cannot as a result of he’s paralyzed. “I’m a paraplegic,” Owensby says. “I got help getting in.”
The officer tells Owensby that he’ll help him in getting out of the automobile, however Owensby tells the officer to not contact him and requests that the officer name a superior. The officer responds by saying that he’ll name his superior, however Owensby should get out of the car first.
“So you can cooperate and get out of the car, or I will drag you out of the car. You see your two options here?” the officer yells at Owensby, who repeats his request for the officers to name a superior.
Seconds later, two officers seize Owensby, and a battle ensues. One of the officers grabs him by the arm and collar after which grabs his hair and drags him out of the automobile. Owensby is seen within the video struggling on the pavement, yelling for assist as the 2 officers proceed to subdue him.
Johns mentioned Owensby was taken to a native hospital the place he was examined for attainable accidents and launched. The police main additionally mentioned that officers retrieved a bag of money from Owensby’s automobile containing $22,450.
Owensby mentioned Sunday the cash was his financial savings and that no weapons or medication had been discovered within the search. He was not charged with any drug-related offenses.
A DPD police incident report shows Owensby was charged with obstructing official enterprise and resisting arrest, each misdemeanors.
“I have nightmares,” Owensby mentioned concerning the arrest. “I should not have to leave out of my house every day wondering if this is going to happen to me again.”
CNN has reached out to James Willis, the lawyer representing Owensby on this matter, for remark.
CNN’s Amy Simonson contributed to this report.