Circleville, Ohio, settles lawsuit involving K-9 officer and truck driver in july attack

The city of Circleville, located in central Ohio, has come to a settlement with a former K-9 officer and a truck driver involved in a highly publicized attack last year. The incident, recorded on video, ignited a national debate about the use of police dogs to apprehend suspects.

Compensation and agreements

Records obtained by The Associated Press reveal that Circleville will compensate Jadarrius Rose with $225,000 for the injuries he sustained from a dog belonging to the Circleville Police Department's K-9 unit on July 4. Rose, aged 24, finalized the settlement on January 8. His attorney, Kenneth Abbarno, emphasized that while the settlement represents a step towards accountability, the impact of the attack will have a lasting effect on Rose.

Furthermore, the city agreed to pay former officer Ryan Speakman $40,000. Part of the settlement involves expunging records related to Speakman's termination from his personnel file, his voluntary resignation effective from last July, and the option to purchase the dog, Serg, who bit Rose for $1. The city will also provide Speakman with a neutral letter of reference outlining his employment dates, position at the department, and his pay rate at the time of resignation.

Response and further developments

Following the incident, Speakman was initially placed on leave and later dismissed from the force. The agency stated that he "did not meet the standards and expectations we hold for our police officers."

Under the terms of the settlement, the Ohio Patrolman’s Benevolent Association must retract a grievance it had filed, contending that Speakman was terminated without proper grounds. The union representing Speakman is scheduled for an arbitration hearing on February 21.

Incident details

During Rose’s arrest near Circleville, captured by police body cameras, Speakman allowed the dog to attack Rose while he was on his knees with his hands in the air, despite state troopers urging him to control the animal. Rose, who hails from Memphis, Tennessee, was 23 years old at the time and required hospitalization following the incident.

The police report stated that the pursuit on Ohio Route 35 began because Rose’s truck appeared to be missing a mudflap, and he failed to stop for inspection. Allegations have been made by the police that Rose initially refused to exit the truck and later disobeyed instructions to get on the ground.

Amidst the attack, a trooper can be heard shouting, "Get the dog off of him!" while Rose, visibly distressed, pleaded, “Get it off! Please! Please!” Audio recordings indicate that Rose informed a 911 dispatcher that law enforcement personnel pursuing him were "trying to kill" him and he did not feel safe stopping. He also expressed confusion as to why the officers were attempting to apprehend him and why they had their firearms drawn after he briefly pulled over before driving away. The dispatcher advised Rose to stop and cooperate with the officers, reassuring him that they did not intend to harm him.