Circleville officer fired. Rally planned following additional footage of police dog attack

The Circleville officer who unleashed his police dog on an unarmed truck driver has been fired, following additional details and video footage of the mauling incident.

A Circleville police news release stated in part that "Officer (Ryan) Speakman did not meet the standards and expectations we hold for our police officers. Officer Speakman has been terminated from the department, effective immediately."

But the union that represents Speakman has filed a grievance to reinstate him, claiming that police contract rules weren't followed in his firing, leaving the possibility that Speakman could eventually return to policing.

The July 4 incident has received international attention, including reaction from Gov. Mike DeWine and the White House.

Read More: Circleville police dog mauled unarmed Black man as he surrendered to officers, video shows

Saturday rally planned. High-profile attorney involved.

Meanwhile, a rally is planned Saturday in Circleville, according to a Facebook page Dismantle Circleville Police.

The group, affiliated with Black Lives Matter, is demanding the resignations of top Circleville police officials, a reduction of departmental staffing and retirement of the dog, 'Serge,' to a canine rescue.

The Belgian Malinois was trained in Pennsylvania. When released by his handler, Speakman, the dog initially bolted for an officer, not the intended target, Jadarrius Rose, 23, of Memphis, Tenn., who had failed to stop for a vehicle inspection by a state trooper in Jackson County, leading authorities on a chase north into Ross and Pickaway counties and, eventually, Circleville, where "stop sticks" were deployed to deflate the rig's tires

Several officers and Speakman called Serge back and pointed at Rose, who by then was on his knees and holding his hands up. The dog finally grasped Rose's left arm and held on for at least 20 seconds before Speakman and another officer pried the dog's teeth from Rose who was screaming on his back.

Prior to the attack, Rose stood with his hands raised, refusing orders to approach the officers whose guns were pointed at him from behind his rig. One of the orders tells him "Come to me. We're not going to hurt you."

Speakman was placed on leave several days after the incident. Circleville police have declined to comment on the matter, citing the ongoing probe. The mayor, council members and law director have been unavailable for comment.

In an afternoon email Thursday, the Florida-based civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced that he is representing Rose, stating: “It is unacceptable for a police officer, while being instructed by other officers NOT to release the dog while Jadarrius was surrendering with his hands up, to do just that. Body cam video clearly shows Speakman lead the canine to attack unarmed Jadarrius who, at that point, was fully complying.

Crump has defended many officer-involved incidents including: Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Tamir Rice and Breonna Taylor. He represented the family of Andre Hill, who was shot and killed by Columbus police Officer Adam Coy in December 2021. The city settled the case for $10 million.

Circleville attorney Benjamin Partee had earlier this week said that he was Rose's attorney.

The Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association has said the city failed to provide Speakman progressive discipline including issuance of a warning, meeting with the chief and other protocols before his firing. A so-called Use of Force Review Board investigated and determined that Speakman's didn't violate specific departmental policy, according to Circleville officials.

Other Circleville police incidents

On Wednesday, a former Circleville police sergeant told The Dispatch that he and five other officers left the force within a three month span a year ago, citing misconduct, including illegal raids, racial profiling and harassment and retaliation against those who spoke out.

The sergeant, who did not want to be named, citing retaliation, is now working for another central Ohio department, said he was pushed into a urinal while using it by current police Chief Shawn Baer and another officer after the sergeant and others had objected to police practices.

Those who filed grievances faced other backlash, they say.

"It was met with "That doesn't happen. Don't bring it up," the former sergeant said. "It was never about the money. We left because of the retaliation against us based on our complaints against the administration."

As for the urinal incident, the former U.S. Marine said "It was the most vulnerable (incident) in my life. It wasn't done as a joke. And by two grown men with 40 years in law enforcement."

Calls to top police officials, city council members and Circleville law director's office were not returned.

Separately, the family of another man named Ryan Speakman, who lives in Canal Winchester and is not a police officer, has reportedly been receiving threatening phone calls.

“People are calling my parents’ house, my brother and his wife’s cellphone and making death threats to them,” said Ashley Springer, the man’s sister. “They have three children who are terrified and have no understanding of what’s going on. ... It is horrible that they are suffering because of another person’s actions.”

dnarciso@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Circleville officer fired after video of mauling by police dog