“Do not release the dog with his hands up!”

In a shocking display of what can only be described as a systemic failure in the proper execution of law enforcement tactics, the Circleville Police Department in Ohio allowed a police dog to brutally attack a surrendering suspect following a chase that covered three counties. The attack took place on July 4, but the unsettling footage of the incident was obtained by the Guardian, which made a public records request and made it available for public viewing this week.

The driver, a black man, who had led troopers and deputies on a chase, had voluntarily disembarked from his semi and was actively complying with law enforcement commands. He had his hands in the air and was slowly backing away from his vehicle when Officer Ryan Speakman arrived at the scene with his K9 unit, Serg.

Although the semi-driver was actively complying, Speakman, in stark contrast to his fellow officers’ commands, decided to unleash his dog. Disturbingly, this happened even after a supervisor at the scene explicitly instructed him not to deploy the K9 as long as the suspect had his hands up and was following orders.

“Do not release the dog with his hands up,” the supervisor says multiple times. But Speakman didn’t listen.

It’s important to note that this wasn’t a simple miscommunication between officers – the video clearly captures multiple officers instructing Speakman to control his dog. Still, the officer decided to act against these instructions, resulting in an unnecessary attack on a surrendered individual.

When Speakman unleashed Serg, the dog initially charged at one of the troopers. After recalling the dog, Speakman redirected it towards the suspect and, shockingly, ordered the dog to bite the compliant, surrendered man. This command came while the suspect was already kneeling with his hands still in the air, clearly not posing any immediate threat to the officers present.

What followed was a terrifying display of gruesome violence as the dog bit the man and dragged him to the median, accompanied by his horrific screams. Even after the attack, Speakman had to physically remove his dog from the suspect, causing further pain and distress to the already injured man.

The evident disapproval of Speakman’s actions was visible and audible among the other officers present at the scene. Their reactions ranged from yelling at Speakman to control his dog to visibly walking away in disgust. Despite their objections, however, the damage had already been done.

Despite this shocking display of abuse, an internal report from the Circleville Police Department deemed that there was no use of excessive force. The chief of police, Shawn Baer, has yet to provide any comment or explanation on this incident, further deepening the divide between law enforcement and the communities they are supposed to serve.

As for the victim, after being released from the hospital, he was brought to jail for evading police. As you watch the video below, ask yourself which person deserves to be in a cage right now, the man who drove away from police, or the man who deliberately tortured a surrendered man, knowing the horrifying damage it would cause?

Article posted with permission from Matt Agorist