An Ohio town will pay both a trucker and a police officer after a police K-9 was released on the truck driver during a traffic stop last summer.
The City of Circleville, Ohio announced settlements for both a police officer and a truck driver involved in an incident involving a police dog that occurred on July 4, 2023.
Former Circleville Police officer Ryan Speakman will receive $40,000 and will be allowed to voluntarily resign.
Speakman was terminated a few weeks after the July 4 incident.
Truck driver Jaddarius Rose will receive a $250,000 settlement from Circleville, 10TV reports.
According to police, Rose refused to stop when a Motor Carrier Enforcement officer attempted to pull him over on U.S. 35 in Jackson County for a missing mud flap.
A multi-agency police pursuit then took place. The pursuit was brought to a halt with stop sticks and Rose eventually exited the truck and stood outside with his hands up.
In police body cam video, you can hear an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper saying, “Do not release the dog with his hands up!”
“As troopers were attempting to gain compliance by providing verbal commands to the suspect, the Circleville Police Department deployed their canine, which resulted in the suspect being bitten by the canine,” the Ohio State Highway Patrol said.
Rose was hospitalized for the dog bite injuries.
The Circleville Police Department later stated that “Officer Speakman did not meet the standards and expectations we hold for our police officers.”
Speakman later filed a complaint, arguing that he was not terminated for “just cause.”
Rose was initially charged with felony fleeing, but this charge was reportedly dropped.