CINCINNATI —

A man has filed a lawsuit against a Cincinnati police officer accusing the officer of tasing him while he was handcuffed in the back of a cruiser.

The encounter happened in April of 2020 and was caught on body camera video.

The man's attorney filed a $1 million lawsuit in federal court citing the officer used excessive for and his client was traumatized and has PTSD.

The man, identified as Samson Jackson, was being transported on a warrant for charges of felonious assault and robbery.

In the body camera footage you can hear Jackson antagonizing Officer David Dozier, calling him names and challenging him to a physical fight.

Officer Dozier reports on his radio that while in the backseat, Jackson pulled his handcuffs to the front of his body, became free from the lap bar and spit on him.

That's when Dozier pulled over his cruiser and stopped.

Jackson's attorney said officer Dozier then tased his client multiple times.

Video shows Jackson was handcuffed during the entire encounter.

In the lawsuit, Jackson claims his rights were violated and that he was subjected to excessive force.

FOP President Dan Hils released a statement Thursday about the incident.

Hils said officer Dozier was suspended for three days following the incident.

You can read the full statement below:

This criminal repeatedly called our African American officer the N word, threatened to assault him, and said he would urinate on the grave of the officer's mother and on the face of the officer's daughter. Our officer had just lost his brother to a murder the month before this incident. Police officers are people too, and statements like those made by this criminal are vicious.

The suspect managed to get his hands out from behind his back and was trying to slip out of the handcuffs. The suspect spit on our police officer. Spitting on an officer is a crime. The officer was understandably angry, but the officer realizes the repeated tasing of the suspect was improper. This happened two years ago, the officer accepted his punishment of three days suspension and has been back on the job serving the community ever since.

The officer accepted responsibility for what he did wrong. However, it's also wrong for a suspect who acted in such a racist and violent manner to ask city taxpayers to give him money two years after the fact.

CINCINNATI —

It’s a day that has been celebrated since 1984.

Police departments and local community groups get together ahead of the school year to promote unity with block parties, barbecues and festivals.

It’s known as “National Night Out”.

The night is meant to foster positive relationships between police and the communities they protect.

The Cincinnati police held an event in every district.

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Other departments like Miami Township, Middletown and Clearcreek Township also held events.

Clearcreek Township Officer Eric Ney was spotted out at the event Tuesday night.

Ney was recently released from a rehab facility after being shot in the line of duty last month.

Event times vary by department, so check with your local precinct for more information.

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You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

To learn more about National Night Out, click here.

CINCINNATI —

Months after a Cincinnati police officer was fired and others were suspended for using a racial slur on duty, WLWT has learned of two other officers investigated for using the slur.

The incidents of officers using the slur became one of the biggest public controversies concerning the department in 2022 and led to a new policy for all city workers.

Through a public records request, WLWT learned Officer Daniel Carter, who is white, and Officer Willie Coman, who is Black, were both accused of using the racial slur on duty last year.

CPD internal documents show while Carter was investigating an assault in August, a man repeatedly used the slur while speaking to the officer.

Carter responded to the man, "First of all, I ain't your [expletive]."

The Cincinnati police department tells WLWT Carter retired before an internal investigation was completed.

FOP President Dan Hils said Carter feared he was going to be fired and did not think he would get a fair shot during the investigative process.

"This officer didn't think he was gonna get it because he's a white dude, ok? His case and Joehonny's case, they're exactly the same. Pull the tapes," Hils said. "Now he has to look back and realize that if he would have just hung in there, he could have worked for a few more years."

Hils referred Detective Joehonny Reese, who was suspended for using a racial slur on a call in September.

A drunk 19-year-old called Reese a racial slur at a night club. Reese responded to the man, repeating the slur.

His police powers were initially suspended and then reinstated.

The city considered starting a no tolerance policy for use of the slur in the fall but opted for a more flexible policy.

The updated policy reads, "For usage of the [racial slur], the presumptive penalty is termination, except in those very rare circumstances where mitigating circumstances are evident."

That wording is likely why Officer Willie Coman is still employed by the department.

CPD internal documents show a woman experiencing a mental health crisis and making bizarre claims repeatedly used a racial slur and called Coman the slur. It happened as Coman was responding to a call in October.

The investigation by internal affairs found "Officer Coman's BWC captured him using the word" two separate times. The report went on to say Coman's use of the slur "was not directed at any person, nor was it used in a demeaning or discriminatory manner."

Further, the report stated Coman "remained calm and professional, even after being insulted."

Ultimately, he received a write-up in his personnel file for the incident.

"When I say you can't find a finer gentleman than Joehonny Reese, Willie Coman would give him a run for the money," Hils said.

He said he believes officers should not use slurs under any circumstance. At the same time, he said good officers should not be punished when there are extenuating circumstances.

A review of Coman's performance reviews found he consistently "exceeds standards."

A review of Carter's file shows he consistently "meets standards," but the last several years, he was marked as "needs improvement" in the category of complying with policies and procedures.

CINCINNATI — A white police officer is under investigation by the Cincinnati Police Department after that officer allegedly made a racist comment to a Black officer while on duty.

According to a statement from the Cincinnati NAACP, earlier in the week a Black officer previously assigned to desk tasks was allowed to resume patrols.

"So the master let you back in the field today," said a white officer, according to the NAACP.

Cincinnati NAACP said it demands accountability for the officer who made the comment, calling on CPD leaders to discipline him.

"When I first heard that my mouth hit the floor, like, hold on, say that one more time," said NAACP Cincinnati President Joe Mallory.

Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge wrote in a statement she is aware of the allegations.

"Immediately when this allegation was brought to my attention, I ordered an investigation be conducted by our Internal Investigations Section," reads Theetge's statement.

The officer accused of making the comment has been placed on desk duty while the investigation is still ongoing, Theetge said.

Cincinnati NAACP called the alleged comment "insensitive, hurtful and racist," later adding the language used was "abhorrent and unacceptable." NAACP said the comment is proof that ongoing racial sensitivity education is required within the department.

"We have to stamp that culture out," Mallory said. "It can't be performative. It has to be intentional, and we have to do a deeper dive training because it happens over and over and over again."

Dan Hils, president of the Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police, said the officer accused of making the statement was trying to make a joke about the two officers' shared boss, not a joke "about the serious topic of slavery."

Hils said the statement made was "I see the master has you back in the field with us."

Shortly after the comment was made, Hils said the accused officer sought out the Black officer "to assure his colleague he meant no offense for his hastily chosen words."

"Looking back now, he regrets it very much," Hils said in an interview.

Mallory pushed back on the indication the phrase was a harmless joke.

"I didn't find a damn thing funny about it," he said. "When you make these kinds of comments, it takes you back to a not-so-distant past when you have the Jim Crow era and people who are still alive today who have experienced and lived through that trauma."

The Sentinel Police Association, a group that works to address 'issues of racism, promotions and disciplinary actions pertaining to Cincinnati African-American officers" according to their Facebook page, called the comment a "verbal slap" that made its way through the department.

"Words and actions matter when it comes to improving cultural perceptions of patterns and practices of racial insensitivity within the walls of CPD," reads a statement from Danita Pettis, president of the Sentinal Police Association. "As such, the Sentinel's position is that nothing short of a complete and thorough investigation of this latest incident, followed by immediate and appropriate disciplinary action will truly reflect CPD's commitment to an improved culture."

WCPO is not naming the accused officer pending the outcome of the investigation.

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati police are investigating a shooting that left one man dead early Saturday morning in Northside.

According to police, officers responded to the report of a man shot around 1:30 a.m. in the 4000 block of Hamilton Ave. When they arrived, police said crews determined 35-year-old Delmar Griffin was dead.

Residents and business owners in Northside said they could hear multiple gunshots overnight. Reginald Stroud, owner of Anybody's Dream convenience store, said he was shocked to hear about a deadly shooting so close to him.

"I've never experienced that here in Northside, but I cant say it's shocking," Stroud said. "To hear that it happened so brazenly here — and only a few doors up from my store last night, it is sort of...it's concerting, it's alarming from the standpoint [that] I hope that this is not something that is going to be a regular thing."

Police have not said if there are any suspects in the shooting or what may have lead up to the shooting, urging anyone with any information about the shooting to call the Cincinnati Police Department's Homicide Unit at 1-513-352-3542.

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CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Police are investigating an alleged threat made outside a polling place in North Fairmount on Election Day.

According to a police report, the incident happened in the parking lot of 1769 Carll Street just after 9 a.m. Tuesday. The police report said someone drove past a woman in a black pickup truck, yelled an obscenity directed at Democrats and pointed a gun at her before continuing east on Carll Street.

The address is listed as the Carll Street Family Center, a polling location for Hamilton County voters. Ohio law states anyone who commits voter intimidation is guilty of a felony in the fifth degree.

Police have not released information on any suspects or arrests.

ELECTION 2021:

CINCINNATI — Officer Lisa Johnson said it was a no-brainer for her to decide to put on a CPD uniform.

"Well, it started off, my godfather worked for the Cincinnati Police Department," Johnson said. "And my mom decided to be a sheriff's deputy, and then my brother became a Cincinnati police officer and I said, 'Well, you know, okay,' and then I became a Cincinnati police officer."

That was more than 30 years ago.

Now Johnson's daughter and younger brother are on the force.

"I get less sleep with my daughter on," Johnson said. "I got less sleep when my mom and brother were on, so it's... but I know they're serving the community."

Johnson has seen the ups and downs of the Cincinnati Police, especially back in the day when being a woman on the force was not so easy.

"I think women had to prove themselves, which I had no problems doing because I was better with some of the guys," she said. "Okay, so I didn't have a problem with that. But I did worry for other women."

Things are different now. Women currently make up about 22% of the department. And women within the CPD have risen in the ranks.

"It's an amazing job. I've been doing it for 30-plus years and have not regretted one single day of it," Lt. Col. Terri Theetge said.

Theetge is the executive assistant chief. This week she and other department leaders signed a pledge to have 30% of the department be women by 2030.

"This is more than just stepping up our game to recruit women," Theetge said. "This is also about retention, promotion, and just how we utilize women throughout the police department."

Nationwide, 104 police departments have made the same pledge in partnership with New York University. In addition, a study conducted by the university shows that departments filled with women have higher rates of public trust.

"Research has shown that women use force less often than men," Theetge said. "Women get less citizen complaints than men do. And yeah, I think it's the maternal instinct. We just approach a scenario from a different angle than men do-- not that the men's angle is wrong. Just different. That's all."

The pledge includes sharing data and working with NYU's School of Law to garner more women into law enforcement.

Interested CPD applicants can browse opportunities here.

Cincinnati officers knowingly took off-duty details at local nightclubs that were used to launder money from drug sales, accepting payment in cash from organizers they nicknamed “dope boys” and concealing the amount they made, according to an indictment filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court.

The only officer named in the complaint is Diondre Winstead, a 15-year veteran of the Cincinnati Police Department accused of falsifying tax documents to hide the money earned from these off-duty shifts.

From 2015-2017, Winstead concealed $58,165 in money from off-duty details from the IRS.

“Winstead stated he began working details at area nightclubs approximately 10 years ago and that these nightclubs host performers and concerts that are paid for and promoted by ‘dope boys’ so they could clean their drug money through the nightclub,” an IRS investigator wrote in the complaint.

The complaint continues: “The ‘dope boys’ pay for all the expenses including the cost for officers to be there. Winstead stated the ‘dope boys’ paid for the expenses in cash which came from drug sales.”

The document claims multiple officers, not just Winstead, took money from these drug traffickers at money-laundering businesses and even warned them when United States Treasury investigators and other Cincinnati officers began an investigation into the clubs.

“During the course of this investigation, (investigators have) also learned that it appears members of the Cincinnati Police Department working off-duty details were aware of money laundering activities ongoing in the nightclub and had reason to believe the cash being paid to them was derived from narcotics sales,” the complaint reads.

A Cincinnati Police Department spokesperson on Friday declined to comment on Winstead's arrest or the allegations against him.

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Police Department said a man in his twenties was shot and killed Friday night in Walnut Hills.

Police said they responded to the 2300 block of St. James Avenue around 9 p.m. for a shooting. When officers arrived on scene, they found 24-year-old Kylton Clide shot and killed at the scene.

No suspect information has been released at this time.

The police department is still investigating this homicide.

CINCINNATI — Officials with the Cincinnati Police Department said a man was shot and killed in Avondale Wednesday evening.

Officers responded around 9:15 p.m. Wednesday to the 3600 block of Vine Street for reports of a person shot. When officers arrived on scene, they found the victim, 28-year-old Jordan Brown. Officers said Brown died at the scene.

The police have not said if there are any suspects in Brown's death.

The Cincinnati Police Department's Homicide Unit is investigating the incident.

CINCINNATI — A man died Monday morning after attacking two people at a Rockdale Avenue home, according to Cincinnati police.

Police said Shantee Humphrey, 46, arrived at the home that morning after a dispute with the two occupants at a graduation party the day before. He shot at them, Capt. Mark Burns said, striking both. They shot back.

Humphrey died of his injuries. His two targets were treated for non-life-threatening wounds, Burns said.

Police declined to publicize their identities and did not clarify whether they intended to file charges against them.

Anyone with additional information about the attack should contact police at 513-352-3542.