CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- On the heels of a video that went viral last week concerning a traffic stop confrontation and arrest in September, Mayor Kahlil Seren has updated residents on his calls for greater executive oversight of the police department.
The narrated video criticizes police handling of a man who approached an officer conducting a Sept. 22 traffic stop of another car that was in front of him. The man accused the officer of cutting him off in the process.
That man wound up getting handcuffed and cited for obstructing official business.
Seren noted in a Jan. 27 letter emailed to residents and posted on the city website that the obstruction case was dismissed 11 days later at the city prosecutor’s request.
“Like many of you, I first became aware of this incident as a result of this video,” Seren wrote. “Due to policies adopted under our previous form of government, it has been the practice of the Cleveland Heights police to internally investigate and resolve complaints about police conduct without notifying the city manager/mayor.”
The edited viral video, issued by “The Battousai” on YouTube, runs about 16 minutes. Seren also provided links to five different police bodycam videos, ranging in length from a couple of minutes up to 27 minutes and 31 seconds.
“I want to share with you what I have subsequently learned, what I think it means and what we are doing about it,” Seren told the community.
He noted that a few hours after the traffic stop, the man who was handcuffed and cited came to City Hall to file a complaint against the sergeant who arrived on the scene and told the man he would be arrested if he continued to interfere with the officer making the original traffic stop.
That officer, who said her lights and sirens were on at the time he claimed she “ran him off the road,” told the sergeant at the scene that she was willing to let the irate driver go.
But things had not gotten off to a good start when the sergeant asked for the 37-year-old man’s name and he told police they needed to have a “reasonable articulable suspicion” in order to do so.
Cleveland Heights Police Chief Chris Britton investigated the complaint and ordered the sergeant to attend a de-escalation training session.
“I have spent the last four days reviewing the unedited body camera footage (which you can view here) and documentation related to this incident,” Seren wrote. “I will complete my administrative review and release my determinations shortly.”
In addition to being the city’s first elected mayor, Seren’s job title also includes “Director of Public Safety.”
“I believe, however, that this situation clearly demonstrates that existing policy in Cleveland Heights is insufficient for a government with an elected mayor and illuminates why these policies must change,” Seren added.
“Executive oversight of the Division of Police must become the standard in Cleveland Heights.”
Seren has already begun work to change how the city handles complaints about police conduct, having announced during 2023 budget hearings his plans to create a new Bureau of Professional Standards within the Cleveland Heights Division of Police to formalize internal controls and accountability.
“I will appoint the first captain for this bureau next month,” Seren added. “In consultation with City Administrator (Joe) Sinnott, Chief Britton and the captain of this new bureau, I will update our policies and procedures for receiving, investigating, resolving and reporting complaints related to police conduct.”
Seren added that Cleveland Heights police have “earned a reputation over the years for being dedicated to a cooperative and productive relationship with residents and visitors to our city.”
“Our continuing work toward systemic improvement will help to maintain and strengthen this relationship with the community,” Seren concluded.
Heights basketbrawl
Meanwhile, Cleveland Heights-University Heights City Schools Superintendent Liz Kirby sent out a letter to district families and staff Jan. 26, announcing additional security measures in place for a home basketball game the next night.
This was in response to a large fight that broke out in the Heights High parking lot after a Jan. 24 game vs. Garfield Heights. Mutual aid from surrounding departments was called in to deal with the fracas.
“During the incident, two police officers and two 19-year-olds were reportedly injured,” Kirby stated in the letter, co-written with Heights High Principal Alisa Lawson-McKinnie.
“Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt. The district is working to determine to what extent students from the CH-UH district were involved, and appropriate disciplinary actions will follow per the Student Code of Conduct if violations have occurred.”
Kirby noted that, “out of an abundance of caution,” school officials added protocols that included limited ticket sales to players and cheerleaders for both Cleveland Heights and their Jan. 27 opponent, Maple Heights.
Cleveland Heights police also had an increased presence on the campus, assisting security in monitoring loiterers outside.
Meanwhile, standard security measures remained in place, including:
- Metal detectors at the entrances.
- Security monitors posted at doors and throughout the venue, actively monitoring the space.
- Spectators are not permitted to park in the lot between the football stadium and the school building. Only the athletic staff working the games, administrators, coaches, security and police officers are allowed to park in this lot.
- At the conclusion of the game, the gym is emptied immediately.
“It’s worth noting that there were no issues inside of the school during the game on Jan. 24,” school officials added. “This is a reflection of the expertise and professionalism of our security team, athletics department and Heights High School staff, as well as the overall respectful nature of our students and the other game attendees.”
Updates were unavailable on the Jan. 27 game, on any potential disciplinary action from the Jan. 24 fight and whether the additional safety precautions would remain in place for future home games.
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