Prosecutor: Officer used reasonable force

Video of September arrest circulated on social media

Elyria police officer Michael Walker “used reasonable force to effect the arrest of Markese White” on Sept. 21 during a domestic violence call, according to a finding by Lorain County Prosecutor JD Tomlinson.

Walker was placed on paid administrative leave and Elyria police Chief Duane Whitely asked the prosecutor to review the arrest after video of it was circulated on social media.

The video showed Walker wrestling with White, 18.

At one point, the officer appeared to grab White by the neck and slam his head to the ground.

Tomlinson said the officer was not guilty of unreasonable use of force.

He added he did not come to his decision “hastily.”

According to medical records, White suffered no injuries in connection with the arrest.

“Markese may have suffered the aches and pains attendant to a fight with police, he was not injured,” Tomlinson said.

He based his ruling on three videos of the incident, medical reports produced at the Lorain County Jail and subsequently at the University Hospitals Elyria Regional Medical Center, and a follow-up investigation by Buddy Sivert, an investigator for the Prosecutor’s Office.

Walker confronted White while investigating the domestic violence incident just before 5 p.m.

Police were called to a house in the 1000 block of Melvyn Lane after White and his sister argued and fought, authorities said.

White allegedly pushed his sister and struck her in the neck with a closed fist punch and threatened to kill her with a brake rotor he picked up at one point during the argument, police said.

The incident

Walker and fellow officer Henry Laurendau were called to the scene.

When Walker and Laurendau approached White, he told them “you ain’t touching me” and assumed a fighting stance, according to Tomlinson’s report.

At one point, Walker pointed a stun gun at White and the two began to wrestle when Walker tried to handcuff White.

As Walker and White continued to struggle, a large crowd began to gather, including his brother.

Walker and White wrestled for three minutes, according to Tomlinson.

At another point during the struggle, White allegedly said, “When I get up, I’m going to kill your a—,” according to Tomlinson’s report.

Walker determined at one point that if White were able to get up to a standing position and with a crowd forming, the situation would become “unmanageable,” the report said.

“In order to regain control of Markese as he fought to get back to his feet, Officer Walker pushed Markese back to the ground forcefully, causing his head to strike the driveway,” Tomlinson’s report said.

During transport to the Lorain County Jail, White continued to “threaten” Walker as well as Walker’s family, Tomlinson wrote.

A medical exam at the jail, showed no visible injuries were found on Walker, including on his head, and he did not complain of pain.

No bruising, swelling or tenderness “to his back, chest or abdomen were noted either, and he had full range of motion.

It was only two days later, that Walker went to University Hospital to complain of head, neck and back pain and told hospital personnel he has also vomited, according to Tomlinson’s report

Personnel at UH said Walker showed no signs of swelling or other trauma and he was given medication and told to take it twice a day for a week or as needed for pain.

“Markese may have suffered the aches and pains attendant to a fight with police, he was not injured.”

— Lorain County Prosecutor J.D. Tomlinson

Tomlinson