Police officer involved in violent arrest fired

Decision made as Michael Amiott neared end of 45-day suspension

The Euclid police officer captured on video punching a black motorist after a traffic stop has been fired.

The Euclid police officer captured on video punching a black motorist after a traffic stop has been fired.

Patrol officer Michael Amiott, who had nearly completed a 45-day suspension stemming from his actions during the Aug. 12 traffic stop, was terminated on Oct. 13, said Euclid Mayor Kirsten Gail in a news release.

“Effective October 13th, 2017, Michael Amiott’s employment as a Police Officer with the City of Euclid, Ohio has been terminated,” Gail stated in the news release issued the same day.

A video viewed millions of times on Facebook shows Amiott punching 25-yearold Richard Hubbard III of Cleveland more than a dozen times and hitting his head on pavement several times after Amiott stopped him for passing stop bar pavement markings.

In the aftermath of the incident, Euclid Police Chief Scott Meyer suspended Amiott without pay for 15 days and recommended that Gail suspend him for an additional 30 days, which she did Sept. 1. Amiott’s suspension was slated to end Oct. 15.

Gail, in the Oct. 13 news release, said that during Amiott’s suspension for various rule violations, her office received further complaints regarding Amiott’s professional conduct.

“After a review, I found Amiott to have violated additional departmental rules, including conduct unbecoming and courtesy, calling into serious question his suitability as a Euclid Police Officer,” she said. “As mayor and public safety director, it is my responsibility to ensure that the Euclid Police Department serves the public professionally, courteously, and conscientiously.”

Amiott has been with the Euclid Police Department since 2014. He joined the department five months after he resigned rather than be fired from the Mentor Police Department for lying about why he stopped a man for a suspended license.

His record in Euclid includes a number of use of force complaints. According to his personnel file, he was reprimanded in 2016 for hitting a suspect with his gun and losing his temper in front of his commanding officer.

A police dashcam video of the Aug. 12 incident shows Amiott wrestling Hubbard to the ground within seconds of ordering him to “face away” after Hubbard steps out of the car.

Hubbard was charged with resisting arrest as well as three traffic citations, including driving with a suspended license.