(CINCINNATI, OH – 7/24/23) – The Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned the mauling of a black man by a police dog earlier this month during a traffic stop after the man raised his hands in the air.
Ohio State Highway Patrol tried to stop Jadarrius Rose, 23, because his vehicle “was missing a left rear mud flap.” After Rose exited his vehicle, he can be seen on video standing in front of state troopers with his hands in the air. A Circleville, Ohio, police officer with a K9-unit dog can be heard telling Rose to “go on the ground or you’re gonna get bit.” A state trooper shouted multiple times, “Do not release the dog with his hands up,” but the local officer did release the dog, which then bit and injured Rose.
“The heart-wrenching episode serves as yet another reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive reform within law enforcement agencies,” said CAIR-Ohio, Cincinnati & Columbus Executive Director Amina Barhumi. “We implore authorities to thoroughly investigate this disturbing incident, holding all responsible parties.”
Barhumi thanked Ohio State Highway Patrol officers for their professional actions, in contradiction to the actions of the local police officer who released the dog.
She noted that CAIR-Ohio recently condemned the distribution of flyers promoting a white supremacist Ku Klux Klan (KKK) group in that state.
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CONTACT: CAIR-Ohio, Cincinnati & Columbus Executive Director Amina Barhumi, abarhumi@cair.com, 614-763-6557
