CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — The Circleville Police Department confirmed Wednesday that Officer Ryan Speakman was fired just a day after he was put on paid leave following a K-9 attack on a surrendering truck driver.

What You Need To Know

  • The firing stems from a July 4 incident, when Ohio State Highway Patrol Troopers pursued a commercial semi-truck that had been missing a mudflap

  • OSHP contacted the Circleville Police Department for backup, which included a K-9

  • Body camera footage shows Speakman deploying the K-9 even though OSHP troopers said not to release the dog

The firing stems from a July 4 incident, when Ohio State Highway Patrol Troopers pursued a commercial semi-truck that had been missing a mudflap. The pursuit ended in Circleville, and the troopers had called the Circleville Police Department for backup, including a K-9, according to the department. 

The Circleville Police Department said the truck driver, 23-year-old Jadarrius Rose from Memphis, Tenn., refused to get out of the truck at first. He also defied instructions to get on the ground, OSHP said, but then eventually he got on his knees and raised his hands in the air. 

Body camera footage captured Speakman holding back the K-9, and off-camera, a trooper said, "Do not release the dog with his hands up."

Body camera footage then shows Speakman releasing the K-9, which attacked Rose. Troopers continually shouted to get the dog off of him, and Rose yelled, "Get it off! Please!" before the attack ended. Rose was treated for dog bites at a nearby hospital, according to the police department. 

Following the attack, Rose was charged with failure to comply. 

"Circleville Police Officer Ryan Speakman’s actions during the review of his canine apprehension of suspect Jadarrius Rose on July 4 show that Officer Speakman did not meet the standards and expectations we hold for our police officers," the Circleville Police Department wrote in a statement. "Officer Speakman has been terminated from the department, effective immediately."

The Circleville Police Department said the investigation included the Circleville Police Use of Force Review Board determining whether the officer's actions in the use of force were following department policies. It determined that the use of canines was followed in the apprehension and arrest of the suspect, the department said. However, the board doesn't have the authority to recommend discipline. 

The Circleville Police Department also called attention to the widespread body camera footage as well as Gov. Mike DeWine's comments earlier Wednesday raising issues surrounding the training of the K-9s. 

"While we certainly respect Gov. DeWine’s views and are always ready to discuss how to improve police training, Circleville’s canine teams of dogs and officers are trained and certified to meet current Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission-recognized standards," the Circleville Police Department said in a statement. "Each canine team is recertified annually to a current nationally recognized standard or other recognized and approved certification standard, as outlined in the Ohio Administrative Code for certification of law enforcement canine units. In short, we meet or exceed all current Ohio laws and standards for police training for our canine teams." 

The Circleville Police Department said it wouldn't comment on the matter any further at this time. 

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

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