Ohio cops pepper spray double amputee, detach prosthetic legs and refuse to return them, as he writhes in pain
COLUMBUS, OHIO: Police officials allegedly thrashed a double amputee on the ground after knocking him down and pepper-spraying him at the George Floyd protests in Ohio on Sunday, June 21, according to a disturbing cellphone video. The incident reportedly occurred during a clash between Columbus police officers and protesters demonstrating against police brutality in the region.
Reports also suggest that the cops allegedly disconnected and took away the amputee – a young man's – prosthetic legs and he was forced to crawl away for help. A video from the scene has emerged on social media, showing the man lying on the ground as protesters attend to him and pour milk on his face to provide relief after a pepper-spray attack. The clip also shows another man from the protests crouching next to him, repeatedly screaming, "medic!" while the amputee's legs are seen lying on the sidewalk away from him.
Witness accounts stated that police officers, during the clash, detached the man's legs and left him lying on the ground helpless. When other protesters confronted the officers, demanding they return the prosthetics, the cops allegedly refused.
A professor at Columbus College of Art & Design, Laurenn McCubbin, took to Twitter to write about the disturbing incident, saying her husband was at the protest and he "saw the cops hit & mace an unarmed kid and then STEAL HIS PROSTHETIC LEGS."
"This kid, who was doing nothing but exercising his 1st amendment rights, was knocked over, maced, and had to flee from the cops ON HIS HANDS, to find medical help," the professor added. "For everyone asking: the protesters begged the cops for the legs back, cops refused. Then a group rushed the cops (getting maced) and were able to grab the legs back & get them back to the kid."
Attorney Ben Crump also shared the video on Twitter, writing: "A double amputee in Columbus, OH was peacefully protesting when police hit and maced him... and TOOK HIS PROSTHETIC LEGS!! Is there no HUMANITY left in police forces across America? He had to crawl to get help. Who would think this is OK? #EndPoliceViolence #StopPoliceBrutality"
A double amputee in Columbus, OH was peacefully protesting when police hit and maced him... and TOOK HIS PROSTHETIC LEGS!! Is there no HUMANITY left in police forces across America? He had to crawl to get help. Who would think this is OK? #EndPoliceViolence #StopPoliceBrutality pic.twitter.com/4sXteg3bi5
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) June 22, 2020
More videos from the Sunday's protests showed police officers using their department-issued bicycles as battering rams to push back the crowd in an attempt to clear the street. Additional footage from the protest also showed police deploying canisters of what appeared to be pepper spray to disperse the protesters despite Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther issuing a statement last week that the City Council had banned the use of pepper spray and tear gas against "non-aggressive, non-violent crowds."
Mayor Ginther, in a statement, had said: "We have been clear about respecting and protecting peaceful protest. We also must keep city streets open to the public to travel and protect residents from lawlessness including the drag racing, fires and injuries in recent nights."
Ginther, on Monday, also issued a statement on Twitter regarding the amputee, writing: "I have seen the video and photo of the disabled man downtown last night. We are taking the matter very seriously and working diligently to find video, photos and additional information."