Cleveland RTA CEO: Officers showed 'poise' during pepper spray incident
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- After a Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority police officer shot pepper spray into a crowd of activists, RTA CEO Joseph Calabrese commended the officers who were on scene for their "poise."
Calabrese praised the officers in an email sent to board members and other officials after the Sunday afternoon incident near Cleveland State University, the site of the weekend Movement for Black Lives national conference.
"There is and will be significant local and national media attention," the email said. "I watched significant video and congratulate the poise exhibited by our transit police officers in the scene."
Calabrese referenced an RTA news release that gave the RTA police account of what happened at Euclid Avenue and East 24th Street.
The incident began when officers removed a 14-year-old boy from a bus who "was intoxicated to the point where he was unable to care for himself."
While officers held the boy at a bus shelter, a crowd of conference attendees gathered at the scene. Officers then put the boy in the back of the police cruiser for his own safety, according to the police release.
The officers intended to take the boy to police headquarters to release him to a parent or guardian, which is normal procedure, according to the RTA.
"The crowd then surrounded the car, and attempted to remove the juvenile from the car," the release said.
The crowd kept the car from leaving, and Sgt. Robert Schwab used pepper spray in a failed attempt to disperse the crowd, according to the RTA.
The boy was eventually checked out by EMS at the scene and released to his mother.
City Councilman Jeff Johnson, who was forwarded Calabrese's email, criticized the remarks.
"I do not agree that all of the RTA officers used poise at the scene," Johnson said in an email to Calabrese. "Obviously, one of your officers went beyond what was necessary to respond to the nonviolent protestors. His use of pepper spray is unacceptable under the circumstances he and other officers responded to... I personally see no need to congratulate at least one of your officers for what was done during this incident. Investigate first, congratulate later, if deserved."
RTA spokesman Jerry Masek would not say if the video Calabrese watched, and referenced in his email, included the officer pepper-spraying the crowd.
City Councilman Zack Reed also reached out to Calabrese about the incident.
"I feel that any use of force against individuals exercising their constitutional rights is very concerning," Reed said in an email. "I look forward to your investigation, which I hope will be open and transparent."
Schwab, a 25-year veteran, has been placed on administrative duties while RTA officials investigate the incident.
No arrests were made.
The Movement for Black Lives national conference meant to draw attention to police brutality and race relations.
