The Columbus Division of Police fired two officers in unrelated cases for alleged misconduct while on the job.
The first officer, Donovan Bever, was fired for actions he took while arresting a 14-year-old boy in Linden in February.
In body-worn camera footage released to WOSU on Friday, Bever is seen shoving the child's face into a concrete sidewalk causing him to bleed, taking items from the child's pockets and throwing them at his face, threatening the boy, grabbing and dragging him by his dreadlocks and hitting the teen in his groin.
The second officer, Robert Spann, allegedly had a sexual relationship with an employee at a Kroger store while he was on special duty at the store between August and September of last year.
Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant said Bever and his partner Officer Cody Banks were on patrol in Linden when multiple teens walked past and rode bicycles and one of the teens allegedly insulted police within earshot of the two officers.
Bever and Banks decided it was "time for a ticket" and exited their vehicle and chased the teens. Banks pulled out his gun and ordered two teenagers to get on the ground. The two complied and Banks began arresting one of them.
Moments later, Bever threw his body into the other teen who was already laying on the ground. Bever shoved the child's face into the concrete and drew blood. Bever also emptied the child's pockets and threw the items at the teen's face.
Bever then threatened the child as the boy yelled repeatedly, "I'm compliant."
"If you move, I will break your face," Bever can be heard saying in the body camera video.
Bever then lifted the boy to his feet and brought him towards his car by grabbing the teen's dreadlocks. The child then yelled in pain.
When they got to the car and other officers were nearby, Bever searched the boy again, claiming he was looking for a gun. The teen denied having a gun. Bever then struck him in the groin area.
Bryant told WOSU Friday that whatever the teens allegedly said to the officer, that is not how police are supposed to respond.
"We as professionals, are not supposed to take words personally. We cannot police by contempt of cop. We do not allow, especially children or people's emotions, to determine how we respond, especially when it is regarding a situation of a use of force," Bryant said.
"We hear a lot worse. We hear a lot of things that people say to us that we can't take personally. We have to understand that they are in some of the worst moments of their lives, whether it's their child has been murdered, whether it's domestic violence situation, whether it's a sexual assault that just occurred," Bryant said.
Bryant did not rule out Bever facing criminal charges. She said his partner, Banks, was reprimanded for language he used during the arrest and for issues with his body-worn camera.
Regarding Spann's incident, Bryant said the relationship was consensual, but called it highly inappropriate.
"It was consensual. But, as a law enforcement officer that wears a badge on duty, it is inappropriate. Highly inappropriate. And it is misconduct on a very significant and severe level, because it breaches the trust of the community and that breaches the trust of our fellow officers," Bryant said.
Bryant said Kroger has decided not to press criminal charges.
Bryant did not comment on any potential litigation by the officers or the teenage victim against CPD.
Bryant conducted the investigation and recommended both Bever and Spann be either suspended or terminated. Public Safety Director Kate Pischotti decided to terminate both officers.
Pischotti said in a statement Bever's actions were unacceptable and indefensible.
"What I saw on that video and read in this investigation was wholly incompatible with the values of the Columbus Division of Police. That is why after carefully considering all of the evidence, I have accepted the recommendation of Chief Bryant and terminated Donovan Bever’s employment. The men and women who risk their lives every day to keep our city safe deserve better. Our community deserves better, and that 14 year-old deserved better," she said.
Pischotti said Spann violated his oath and his duty to serve and brought dishonor to the Division of Police.
Both Mayor Andrew Ginther and City Council President Shannon Hardin issued statements that said Bryant did a good job swiftly taking action against Bever.
Spann was fired June 5, and Bever was terminated June 12.
Bever joined the department in 2020, while Spann joined the department in 2012.
