Akron police explain forceful arrest of man Tuesday after critics post video

Video clips of Akron police forcefully arresting a man Tuesday evening in West Akron began circulating on social media overnight.

One shows two officers on the ground, one on top of the man telling him to stop resisting arrest. Another video shows an officer repeatedly punching the man while trying to detain him.

Some people commenting on the videos suggested officers stopped the man's car for no reason, but police on Wednesday said they found drugs on the man and several loaded guns — including an AK-47 pistol — in the car he was driving.

Summit Lake death: Woman dies from apparent long-distance bullet shot across lake

The videos surfaced as tension between the police and the community continues to simmer following the police shooting death of Jayland Walker and protests that have resulted in dozens of arrests and downtown filled with tear gas and broken glass.

Police did not immediately address the videos on social media Wednesday, but laid out officers' side of the story in a daily summary of police activity sent to the media.

The summary said police arrested a 20-year-old man and a 16-year-old teen on weapons charges following a traffic stop. A second teen fled on foot, the report said.

The report did not identify any of those involved.

Jayland Walker: What we know — and still don't know — about the police shooting death

The videos appear to match the general description of what happened, though the police version doesn't mention an officer throwing repeated punches as he tries to subdue the man being arrested.

"Boom, he grab him, boom," an unidentified person narrating one of the videos says as an officer punches the man before they both lean into some shrubbery and begin tumbling toward the street where the video shows the officer throwing more punches.

Police report guns recovered

According to police, the incident unfolded like this: Around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, officers stopped a car near Noah Avenue and Peckham Street.

When officers initiated the stop, a 20-year-old driving pulled into a driveway in the 400 block of Noah Avenue. As officers approached the car, they saw an AK-47 pistol on the seat. At the same time, the man and two teens in the car got out and "attempted to flee or walk away," police said.

Officers quickly stopped the 16-year-old, who had been riding in the back seat, without incident, police said. The other teen ran away.

The driver, police said, "tried reproaching the vehicle where there was at least one unsecured firearm" inside, the report said.

The video shows a man exit the car and walk toward a house as an officer reaches for him.

The driver and an officer then struggle as the officer tries to take the man into custody, police said and the video shows.

Another video shows the man face down on the sidewalk before he is taken into custody.

Police said they found a Glock auto switch and narcotics in the man's pocket. A Glock switch is a small device that can turn any gun into an automatic weapon.

When officers searched the car, they seized the AK-47 pistol, which was loaded, police said. They also found three loaded handguns in the vehicle, including one with an extended magazine.

Chief issues statement

Akron Police Chief Stephen Mylett watched the citizen videos late Wednesday and told the Beacon Journal a use-of-force investigation was under way and that both officers remain on duty.

He issued the following statement: "I have viewed the video that is circulating on social media depicting an arrest on Noah Avenue.

"It is my understanding that upon the officer’s initial approach on the car, officers observed an AK47 in plain view. Additionally, four loaded firearms were recovered in the vehicle.

"Every use of force is evaluated and is measured against our policies and procedures. The internal review is under way and the final determinations will be made as to the reasonableness of the force used based on the totality of the circumstances."

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Why did Akron police use force to arrest man on Noah Avenue?