MANSFIELD — Mansfield police officers “acted within the policies” of the department on April 9 during an arrest on the front porch of 139 Blymyer Ave., Chief Jason Bammann said in a press release Sunday afternoon.
That announcement came after an internal investigation that was reviewed and confirmed by Safety Services Director Keith Porch, the police chief said.
Bammann said the investigation included a review of the complaint filed by 28-year-old David Brown Jr.; security footage posted to Facebook; body-worn camera footage; cruiser video from the involved officers, and officer statements.
The MPD’s policies and procedures are scheduled to be discussed Monday evening during a “Town Hall” meeting arranged by Alomar Davenport, president of the Mansfield Chapter of the NAACP.
In calling for the public meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Legacy Academy of Excellence, 215 N. Trimble Road, Davenport said he wanted the chief to talk about department procedures and protocol in such cases, but not the recent incident in particular.
Bammann and Porch are both scheduled to participate, along with Mayor Jodie Perry.
In the arrest earlier this month, Bammann said the MPD “received credible information from a known and previously reliable source regarding suspected drug trafficking at 139 Blymyer Avenue.”
“The source reported that a heavyset, younger Black male was selling drugs from the location, often with a pistol in his waistband, and that an AR-style rifle was visible on a coffee table inside the residence. This source’s prior tips had led to multiple felony arrests and the seizure of illegally possessed firearms,” the chief said.
Bammann said officers were patrolling at about 3 a.m. near Blymyer Avenue when they saw a silver Ford sedan traveling westbound through an alley.
“The vehicle stopped briefly at Sturges Avenue before accelerating quickly, leading
officers to believe the driver was attempting to evade them,” the chief said.
Bammann said officers began to converge on the area and found the vehicle parked outside 139 Blymyer Avenue.
“A man matching the description provided by the source was seen near the vehicle, walking around the property, opening and closing the trunk, and pacing on the porch, but never entering the home,” the chief said, adding that officers watched the driver’s behavior for about nine minutes.
“Due to the totality of the circumstances, officers had reasonable, articulable suspicion that criminal activity was being committed and attempted to detain the man/driver.
A United States Supreme Court decision, Terry v. Ohio (1968), determined that officers are permitted to detain individuals and conduct a protective weapons search when reasonable suspicion exists,” Bammann said.
“There have been multiple prior incidents throughout our community in which individuals have fired weapons from inside residences. Due to Mansfield police officers having knowledge that the man in question, later identified as David Brown Jr., may have had an assault rifle inside the residence, they utilized their training and experience to decide that they needed to keep Mr. Brown away from the residence for the safety of the officers, the public, and Mr. Brown himself,” the chief said in the press release.
Bammann said officers were also aware the situation could possibly escalate if any occupants of the residence interpreted commotion on the porch as an attack by a rival gang.
“When officers lawfully commanded (Brown) to step off the porch, to conduct
a pat-down for weapons, he backed away and refused to comply. As officers moved
closer, (Brown) continued to retreat and repeatedly refused to comply,” the chief said.
“When officers attempted to detain (Brown), he pulled his arm away, and a short struggle ensued. Officers took him to the ground to safely handcuff him. (Brown) was uncooperative and argumentative throughout the entire encounter and refused to identify himself even though officers believed criminal activity was afoot,” Bammann said.
After officers identified Brown, they discovered there was a Richland County Sheriff’s Office felony arrest warrant for cocaine possession, the chief said.
“He then refused to enter the cruiser, after multiple warnings and requests, and had to
be physically placed inside by officers. During that struggle, he continued to verbally
and physically resist officers’ commands and was sprayed with pepper spray to gain
compliance,” Bammann said.
In his press release, the chief said 2023 was one of the most violent years in the city’s history.
The MPD investigated 12 gun-related murders in 2023.
“To combat this crime, we have employed a more proactive approach to policing, and it is having a noticeable impact. The violent crime rate in the City of Mansfield has dropped considerably,” Bammann said.
“We will continue this strategy. Our citizens deserve a safe community: one where children can play outside and residents can walk in our parks and neighborhoods without fear of becoming innocent victims of gun violence,” he said.
“I want to thank the community for their patience as we conducted our investigation
into this incident. I also want to remind everyone that a two-minute video does not
always capture the full story, and this incident is a perfect example of that,” the chief said.
“Police officers, like the individual involved, are entitled to the same due process rights as anyone else. They should always be afforded that respect,” Bammann said.