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Council refers 3:18 a.m. bar incident to safety committee, authorizes subpoenas for video
Summary
After multiple public complaints about police conduct during an incident at the downtown bar known as the 318 on Sept. 27, the Lima City Council referred the matter to its Safety Services Committee and authorized the law director to seek subpoenas for video evidence.
The Lima City Council on Oct. 6 voted to refer the Sept. 27 incident at the downtown establishment known as the 318 to the council’s Safety Services Committee and authorized the law director to pursue subpoenas for all video recordings of the encounter.
The move followed a lengthy public-comment period in which residents described seeing what they called excessive force by responding officers. “When those sworn to protect us become a source of fear, we are failing as a city,” resident Heaven Simpson told the council. Simpson said the incident occurred at 3:18 a.m. on Sept. 27 and called for “independent investigations of misconduct, better training and de‑escalation.”
Other speakers described seeing people thrown to the ground, tasings and officers who they said engaged aggressively without clear identification. Brian Irons said video he viewed showed “panic” rather than escalation, and asked about training and local hiring. Trayvon Jones, who said he and his wife were present that night, called for a review of “policies, training and accountability standards” and for bars to improve security.
At the meeting Mayor and council members and public-safety staff said they had reviewed video from multiple angles. Ray Magnus, a downtown business owner who said he watched footage with others, told the council he did not see “overly aggressive” conduct and defended the Lima Police Department’s response. Pastor Ron Fells, who also reviewed several videos, described the scene as chaotic and urged compliance with lawful orders to exit when officers give them.
Council members and staff described multiple next steps. Major Leland and city staff said the department will accept formal complaints and outlined the complaint process: contact the Lima Police Department, obtain and complete a notarized complaint form, and the department will assign a fact-finding investigation that is reviewed by supervisory staff and forwarded to the chief. Major Leland said complainants receive a response when an investigation is completed; corrective actions that produce discipline are retained in personnel records.
The council also discussed a community Citizens Police Academy that had been planned; city staff said that program will be postponed to the first quarter of the coming year to increase enrollment. The academy is intended for adults 18 and older, requires a background check and carries a $50 registration fee; the city said scholarships / sponsorships were being offered by several council members to reduce financial barriers.
In a final action on the topic Councilor Thompson (mover) asked that the incident be referred to the Safety Services Committee and authorized that committee work with the law director to issue subpoenas for video recordings related to the incident. The council approved the referral and subpoena authorization by voice vote. Council members said the committee will review the videos and report back to the full council.
The council did not make findings on the video at the meeting; the referral directs the Safety Services Committee and the city law director to oversee evidence collection and review and to return recommendations to full council.
