Man with disability at center of controversial police traffic stop found guilty on traffic charges

DAYTON — A Dayton man who was involved in a controversial traffic stop with police last month was found guilty on two misdemeanor traffic charges he was facing in the incident.

>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Dayton FOP defends traffic stop involving man with disability as commissioners face more questions

Clifford Owensby, 39, was given a summons to appear in court on two misdemeanor charges violation of window tint and violation of a child restraint seat after the Sept. 30 traffic stop.

Owensby appeared in the traffic division of Dayton Municipal Court Monday afternoon and was found guilty on both counts. A Dayton police officer was questioned by both the prosecution and defense in the 30 minute hearing.

Owensby was ordered to pay a fine of $150 for each count, for a total of $300.

>>Dayton PD promises ‘thorough review’ after body cam shows officers drag man who says he’s disabled

The traffic stop involving Dayton police and Owensby has gained national and international attention after it was caught by witness video and police body camera footage. The footage showed Owensby pulled from his vehicle by police as he shouted he has a disability and is paraplegic.

>> RELATED: Dayton police release community incident briefing on controversial traffic stop

Police stopped Owensby during an investigation of a suspected drug house on West Grand Avenue after officers said they saw the car leave the house.

>>Dayton NAACP, Clifford Owensby speak about Dayton police traffic incident

Body camera video showed officers asking Owensby to exit his car so that K-9 officers could safely conduct an “air-sniff” search. Owensby said he could not because he was paraplegic.

>>Protestors gather at Dayton City Hall after controversial traffic stop involving man with disability

Owensby refused the officers’ offer to assist him out of his car.

“No you’re not. No you’re not. You’re not going to touch me,” the video shows, Owensby said.

Officers then forcibly removed Owensby from the car, handcuffed him and drug him into a police cruiser.

In the aftermath of the traffic stop and public release of the video, community leaders have made demands, calling for the suspension of the officers involved, public apology, and an independent investigation into the incident.

>>Protestors demand change after controversial Dayton traffic stop involving man with disability

Leaders of the Dayton Fraternal Order of Police have defended the officer’s actions, previously saying the officers “followed the law, their training and departmental policies and procedures.”

“Police officers do not want to be put in these types of situations, but when people repeatedly refuse to cooperate regardless of their circumstances, officers can’t just walk away and drop it, because a suspect doesn’t want to be searched or arrested,” Dayton FOP Vice President Derric McDonald said in a video posted last week.

The City of Dayton has promised a “thorough review” into the incident, with city commissioners telling the public an investigation like this takes time.

We’ll update this story with new developments as they become available.

©2021 Cox Media Group