Latest news with #Mumyarutete
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Yahoo
Prosecutor to release more details about fatal Lockland police shooting
The Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office is holding a press conference Monday to discuss details about the police shooting of a Woodlawn man last month. Samuel Mumyarutete, 48, was fatally shot March 19 by a Lockland police officer. The department said the incident started after a license plate reader identified a stolen vehicle in West Chester. Officers located the vehicle, but the driver sped away, police said. The vehicle was found crashed near Glendale Milford Road and Evendale Drive, but the suspect was not found there. A suspect was later located and taken into custody, but no one has said if that suspect was the driver or has been charged with anything. Then a Lockland officer saw Mumyarutete walking along Interstate 75, Lockland Police Chief Michael Ott said in a news release. "The officer reported the suspect had something in his hands and was refusing to obey commands," Ott said. "The officer attempted to use less lethal force to address the non-compliant suspect, but the Taser didn't stop the suspect." Ott said Mumyarutete continued to disobey commands, the officer opened fire and struck him in the chest. Police have not said if Mumyarutete was involved with the vehicle that had been reported stolen. Mumyarutete's family said in a statement through their lawyer that they believe he may have been an innocent bystander. Mumyarutete was a refugee fleeing a civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, his family said. "Although we know the police were involved in a high-speed chase in the area, we have received no information that our father was involved in any aspect of that chase," the statement reads. "We believe he may have been an innocent bystander." Lockland police have reported that the officer was not wearing a body camera at the time of the shooting. The department is working to deploy body cameras for its officers, but that process is still underway. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation has been investigating the incident. The agency is called in by police departments across the state to offer an independent investigation of shootings. The bureau cannot, by law, declare whether an officer committed a crime or committed any wrongdoing. It cannot bring charges against officers. The final bureau report into a shooting or death is turned over to the local elected country prosecutors. Newly elected Prosecutor Connie Pillich has faced an spike in officer-involved shooting since taking office: On Feb. 28, officers shot Robert Brandon Eldred, 39, who is accused of charging at sheriff's deputies with an ax in Columbia Township, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. Pillich said the officers acted in self defense. On March 2, Cincinnati police shot 31-year-old Patrick Lyons after he charged at officers with a knife, the department said. Pillich called that incident a 'clean shooting.' Both Eldred and Lyons survived. They both face criminal charges in connection with the incidents. Some prosecutors in Ohio, including Butler County's Mike Gmoser, take every police shooting to a grand jury to determine if the officers committed any crimes. Pillich said she would address each shooting on a case-by-case basis. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Prosecutor to talk about fatal police shooting of Samuel Mumyarutete
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Yahoo
Lockland officer was not equipped with body camera during fatal shooting on I-75
The Lockland police officer who fatally shot a man on Interstate 75 in Evendale last week was not wearing a body camera, as the department has yet to equip all its officers with body-worn cameras, officials said. While the village council passed an ordinance authorizing Lockland police to use body cameras, only four such cameras are in service and the officer who shot 48-year-old Samuel Mumyarutete was not wearing one, a statement posted to the village's website reads. Officials said only four officers have been wearing the cameras in the field to test them, but the village has "prioritized funding and training to ensure the full deployment of cameras across the department in the near future." An Ohio Department of Transportation spokesperson said at least part of the shooting was captured on a nearby traffic camera at I-75 and Glendale Milford Road. However, officials have yet to release that footage. The shooting came after West Chester Township police began a pursuit at the intersection of Princeton Glendale Road and Provident Drive on March 19 after they received notification from a license plate reader of a stolen vehicle, according to a township spokeswoman. Officers located the vehicle and attempted to pull it over, but the driver fled. West Chester officers pursued the vehicle for approximately six miles and ended the chase at the Hamilton County line, where other departments picked it up. Several police departments responded at about 2:45 a.m. to assist when the chase entered Hamilton County, according to Evendale police. Officials said the vehicle being pursued was found crashed near Glendale Milford Road and Evendale Drive, though its occupants were not found there. After one suspect had been taken into custody, a Lockland officer located Mumyarutete walking along the interstate, according to Lockland police. Mumyarutete was holding something and refused to obey police commands, police said, adding the Lockland officer tried to stop Mumyarutete with a Taser but was unsuccessful. As Mumyarutete continued to disobey commands, the officer opened fire and struck him in the chest, police said. It remains unclear exactly what prompted the officer to discharge their weapon. Mumyarutete was a refugee fleeing a civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, his family said in a statement last week. They added he was not fluent in English and relied on a translation app on his cellphone. Hamilton County Municipal Court records show Mumyarutete was arrested March 14 on a misdemeanor assault charge after he allegedly attacked someone with a metal was released from jail on his own recognizance, meaning the court trusted Mumyarutete to return for future hearings without posting a monetary bond, just two days before the court records indicate Mumyarutete planned to argue that he acted in self-defense. The Ohio Bureau of Investigation was called to handle the shooting inquiry, as commonly happens after police shootings in the state. Lockland officials said the officer has been placed on administrative leave while BCI completes its investigation, and the police department will also conduct an internal investigation. "We acknowledge the deep impact this has on the family of Mr. Mumyarutete, our officers, and the broader community − especially our growing immigrant community," the village's statement reads. "While we remain in contact with the Mumyarutete family, the BCI Investigation will review all of the events leading up to the shooting during their investigation." This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Lockland officer not equipped with body camera in fatal shooting
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Yahoo
Family of man killed by Lockland police believes he was likely 'innocent bystander'
The family of a man fatally shot by a Lockland police officer early Wednesday morning is seeking answers, believing he was simply a bystander when he was confronted by authorities responding to a pursuit that ended in Evendale. Samuel Mumyarutete, 48, of Woodlawn, was a refugee fleeing a civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, his family said in a statement Friday through their attorney. "Although we know the police were involved in a high-speed chase in the area, we have received no information that our father was involved in any aspect of that chase," the statement reads. "We believe he may have been an innocent bystander." West Chester Township police began the pursuit at the intersection of Princeton Glendale Road and Provident Drive after they received notification from a license plate reader of a stolen vehicle, according to a township spokeswoman. Officers located the vehicle and attempted to pull it over, but the driver fled. West Chester officers pursued the vehicle for approximately six miles and ended the chase at the Hamilton County line, where other departments picked it up. Several police departments responded at about 2:45 a.m. to assist when the chase entered Hamilton County, according to Evendale police. The vehicle being pursued was found crashed near Glendale Milford Road and Evendale Drive, though occupants of the vehicle were not found there, officials said. After one suspect had been taken into custody, a Lockland officer located Mumyarutete walking along the interstate, according to Lockland police. Mumyarutete was holding something and refused to obey police commands, police said, adding the Lockland officer tried to stop Mumyarutete with a Taser but was unsuccessful. As Mumyarutete continued to disobey commands, the officer opened fire and struck him in the chest, police said. Mumyarutete was not fluent in English and relied on a translation app on his cellphone, his family said. The Ohio Bureau of Investigation was called to handle the shooting inquiry, as commonly happens after police shootings in the state. However, officials have yet to release body camera footage of the shooting and what led up to it. "We are optimistic that there will be a thorough, transparent, and timely investigation," the family's statement reads. "We are hopeful that we will be provided answers soon." Hamilton County Municipal Court records show Mumyarutete was arrested March 14 on a misdemeanor assault charge after he allegedly attacked someone with a metal pole. He was released from jail on his own recognizance, meaning the court trusted Mumyarutete to return for future hearings without posting a monetary bond, just two days before the shooting. The court records indicate Mumyarutete planned to argue that he acted in self-defense. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Family of man shot, killed by Lockland police had fled from civil war
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Yahoo
Coroner identifies man fatally shot by Lockland officer after pursuit, crash
Officials have released the identity of the man fatally shot by a Lockland police officer after a pursuit that began in Butler County early on Wednesday. The Hamilton County Coroner's Office confirmed Thursday that 48-year-old Samuel Mumyarutete, of Woodlawn, was killed in the shooting on Interstate 75 near Glendale Milford Road. West Chester Township police began the pursuit at the intersection of Princeton Glendale Road and Provident Drive after they received notification from a license plate reader of a stolen vehicle, according to a township spokeswoman. Officers located the vehicle and attempted to pull it over but the driver fled. West Chester officers pursued the vehicle for approximately six miles and ended the chase at the Hamilton County line, where other departments picked it up. Several police departments responded at about 2:45 a.m. to assist when the chase entered Hamilton County, according to Evendale police. The vehicle being pursued was found crashed near Glendale Milford Road and Evendale Drive, though occupants of the vehicle were not found there, officials said. After one suspect had been taken into custody, a Lockland officer located Mumyarutete walking along the interstate, according to Lockland police. Mumyarutete was holding something and refused to obey police commands, officials said, adding the Lockland officer tried to stop Mumyarutete with a Taser but was unsuccessful. As Mumyarutete continued to disobey commands, the officer opened fire and struck him in the chest, officials said. The Enquirer has requested body camera footage and other records about the shooting. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is leading the shooting inquiry. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Coroner IDs man shot by Lockland officer after pursuit, crash
