After an investigation into an arrest that went viral earlier this month, the Mansfield Division of Police said the officers who were involved did not violate division policies.
The arrest caught the public’s attention after a video of a man’s arrest was shared widely on social media.
"There was more to this than what I saw in that two minute video," said Mansfield Police Chief Jason Bammann.
In a lengthy news release sent to media outlets on Sunday afternoon, Mansfield police said that on April 7, the department received credible information regarding suspected drug trafficking on Blymer Avenue. A source said an armed man was selling drugs from a home on the street, Mansfield Police said.
Around 3 a.m. on April 9, Mansfield officers were patrolling Blymyer Avenue when they observed a Ford sedan traveling westbound through an alley. Mansfield Police said the vehicle briefly stopped and then accelerated quickly, leading the officers to believe the driver was evading them.
"They've gotten drugs from that area before, again from a credible source. So, officers specifically went to that area. When the sergeant got into the area a vehicle parked out front started and fled off," said Bammann.
The vehicle was later found parked at the same home on Blymer Avenue that the tipster had provided information about, and a man, identified as David Brown, was located near the vehicle, Mansfield Police said.
The officers observed Brown's actions for about nine minutes, and due to the circumstances, the officers had "reasonable, articulable suspicion that criminal activity was being committed," and tried to detain Brown, Mansfield Police said.
Officers asked Brown to step off the porch to conduct a pat-down for weapons, but Brown refused to comply, Mansfield Police said.
When officers went to detain Brown, a brief struggle ensued. Officers took him to the ground and handcuffed him, Mansfield Police said.
According to police, Brown refused to enter the cruiser and had to be physically placed inside. Police said during the struggle, they pepper-sprayed Brown.
"Those officers at the time were perceiving a threat, as I view it, I agree, you know, with what they saw. So, we don't have time, you know, to stand there and beg and plead, and again, it was his actions that created as he started backing away," said Bammann.
Police records show six complaint calls to that address over two years, along with five prior drug possession arrests and two weapons charges for Brown, as well as an outstanding warrant for his arrest. However, police were unaware of this information until after Brown was in custody. The chief said that suspicion alone is enough for officers to detain someone.
"We have that right. If we think crime is afoot, then absolutely we have the right to detain them and the right to pat them down again," said Bammann.
Bammann told News 5 they did not find any drugs or weapons on Brown, but they did find a stack of cash.
Brown was recently charged with resisting arrest and failure to appear for a warrant. The investigation that cleared the officers of wrongdoing was reviewed and confirmed by Safety-Service Director Keith Porch.
“I want to thank the community for their patience as we conducted our investigation into this incident,” Bammann said in the press release sent out Sunday. “I also want to remind everyone that a two-minute video does not always capture the full story, and this incident is a perfect example of that. Police officers, like the individual involved, are entitled to the same due process rights as anyone else. They should always be afforded that respect.”
News 5 spoke with Brown after video of the arrest gained traction online. Brown said he was smoking on his girlfriend's porch when the officers drove up.
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Doorbell camera footage caught the arrest, and in the video, you hear him repeatedly ask, "Why?" after he was pinned to the ground. When News 5 spoke with Brown, he said he received no answer until officers told him he was loitering.
The video sparked concern online, and Brown said he had done nothing wrong.
Brown said he posted bail after Mansfield Police charged him with resisting arrest and obstruction.
News 5 reached out to Brown's family following the release of the investigation results, and they said they were not surprised.
"They're going to continue to treat him like he's guilty because of his record; he's always going to be guilty in their eyes for anything that ever gets brought up to them. He's forever going to be guilty; so, he'll always be fighting for his innocence, well really it should be the opposite way around," said Brown's sister, Asya Curry.
The family believes Brown’s arrest was mishandled, and said they still want to see changes within the police department.
"I really wish they had, like, better training, maybe better morals, something along the lines of, you know, just to be better officers," said Curry.
