Residents, NAACP call for review after December 19 police encounter in Sandusky

Barbara Clark, president of the Sandusky unit of the NAACP, urged the City Commission to demand a “thorough review and investigation” by Sandusky Police Chief Jared Oliver into a Dec. 19, 2024 encounter captured on video.

The NAACP’s statement, read aloud at the commission’s Jan. meeting, asked whether “any of the officers whose actions are under review are likely to be disciplined by either a formal or written reprimand or some form of disciplinary action” and asked for “information release regarding the past incident of the behavior, the judgment, or the actions taken against any officer seen on the video.”

In public comments that followed, several residents described what they said they saw in the recordings. Danielle Murray said officers punched and tasered Scottie B. Scott and noted that “Scottie b Scott is still in jail. This is assault committed by the Sandusky police.” Murray urged the commission to pursue firing, investigation and criminal charges against officers involved and recommended civil litigation on Scott’s behalf.

Other speakers framed the encounter in historical and mental-health contexts. Alexia Harris recounted policing’s historical roots and argued officers must be held to constitutional limits on force. Courtney Reyna noted Scott’s reported diagnoses of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia and urged specialized officer training or pairing officers with mental-health crisis specialists. Lisa Mazuca, who said she reviewed multiple videos, described concern about strikes to Scott’s head and recounted a moment when an officer responded to a person saying “I want to die” with “don’t make people have to pick your body up,” which she called “disgraceful.”

Some speakers urged a balanced view: Reverend Herman Robinson said he saw “enough blame to go around on both sides” in the videos he watched and commended officers he said intervened to restrain others during the encounter. Bernell Scott, the speaker who identified himself as Scottie Scott’s father, said simply, “I don’t like the way my son was dead. That’s wrong.”

The commission did not take formal action on the matter during the meeting. Commissioners moved the public-comment portion earlier on the agenda to allow residents to speak, and several commissioners and city staff acknowledged receipt of the comments and the chief’s engagement with some community members.

The public asked the commission for transparency about any internal investigation and any discipline imposed. Speakers repeatedly requested timely release of body-camera footage, investigation findings and clarity on whether existing departmental policies address the actions shown in the recordings.