Norwood, Ohio police Officer Robert Ward is being in investigated after video surveillance captured him throwing Denise Diallo into a cement wall at a police station, MSNBC reports.
The incident took place on Aug. 11 when Diallo entered the Norwood Police Department asking for property from a previous arrest. When officers told her that they could not help her, she allegedly walked out of the station cursing, then reentered the foyer. After being told that she could not be assisted, Diallo reportedly slammed the intercom phone on the receiver.
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Officer Ward then entered the foyer to ask Diallo to leave, but she allegedly tried to reenter. She ran off after Ward told her she was under arrest. Several cops had to take her down outside of the station to control her, according to police. She was cuffed for criminal trespassing and resisting arrest.
In the video below, you will see that the officer clearly pushes Diallo into the wall. (Ward said in a police report that Diallo leaped from his arms, according to KLTV.)
Here is more from MSNBC:
Diallo’s attorney tells News 5 that her wrist was broken during the incident. She was transported to the hospital for treatment of her injuries. (Officer Ward was allegedly scratched by Diallo During the arrest)
Keith Schneider, the special prosecutor based in Columbus, has been called in to investigate the allegations. Norwood Police Chief William Kramer released the following statement:
“As a matter of routine we review all responses to resistance. While reviewing a response to resistance involving Officer Robert Ward we observed behavior that is not consistent with the way we train. We immediately placed Officer Robert Ward on Administrative Leave and contacted the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office for assistance. The Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office has appointed a special prosecutor from Columbus to handle the case. The incident is still under investigation.”
A decision on whether the prosecutor’s office will pursue charges against Ward should be announced in a week or so. Ward has been suspended in connection to the incident.
