3 days ago
Cleveland Heights retains outside counsel after refusing to release bodycam video
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio (WJW) – Cleveland Heights law department officials have retained an attorney to represent them after refusing to release police body camera video involving Mayor Kahlil Seren's wife.
The FOX 8 I-Team has asked for the video, but the law department denied the request and sent us an email stating that they have retained Attorney Gregory Beck, of North Canton, to handle the matter.
The I-Team has filed a complaint with the Ohio Court of Claims asking the court to order the city to release the video.
The interaction between the mayor's wife, Natalie McDaniel, and the sergeant happened Dec. 6 inside Cleveland Heights City Hall.
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Cleveland Heights officials said there was no 'official' police report but they did release a statement written by the sergeant. No charges were filed against the mayor's wife.
'On 12/06/2024 at approximately 1 p.m. I was approached by a unknown woman in City Hall's front desk of the Mayor's office,' wrote Sergeant Jason Mose. 'I first noticed the woman in a panic state in the atrium, as if she was waiting for someone. She was gesturing and talking to herself. At some point, she approached me at the front desk and asked in a frantic voice if I knew where the Mayor was. I replied, I have not seen the Mayor. She became very agitated and annoyed at my answer. She told me she was suppose to meet her Husband in the atrium. At this point, I was able to connect this female is the Mayor's wife. I asked her what time did the Mayor respond to you, she stated at 12:53 p.m., in agitated voice. I remember looking at the desk top computer and saw the exact time was 1:05 p.m. I told her maybe he is in a meeting or something. She then demanded if I knew Chief Britton was in his Office, I replied I do not know.'
The report further noted that when an employee from the mayor's office confronted her, she began swearing at him. The sergeant noted on his statement that the incident happened during city hall business hours. The sergeant added that a lieutenant tried to 'de-escalate' the situation.
'I could still hear the female berating and criticizing someone from where I was sitting,' the statement read. 'This scolding continued for approximately 20-30 minutes. The female was hitting the glass window behind me. She was calling me a giant white man and how she is a light skinned Black woman who repressed the way I treated her. This ended when the Mayor, his wife and Lieutenant Corrigan exited from the Office. The Mayor turned to me and stated we need to talk while walking towards the staircase. Parts of this incident was recorded on my BWC.'
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Attorney Tom Merriman said he believe the body camera video should be released.
'The rules don't change, the law doesn't change just because she happens to be married to a public official,' Merriman said. 'If you look at the law, if you look at the case law, this is a no brainer. It's a slam dunk public record.'
We have tried to talk to the mayor several times but he has declined to answer any specific questions.'I think the members of Cleveland Heights City Council should be demanding that this recording be released,' Merriman said. 'I think they have a duty to the people of Cleveland Heights.'
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