Chief: Excessive Force Used On Councilman's Daughter
August 25, 2009

CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati's police chief said Monday that when an officer shocked the daughter of a city councilman with a Taser gun early Sunday, it was an excessive use of force.

Celeste Thomas, 26, was a passenger in a car pulled over by police at about 2:30 a.m. in Walnut Hills after officers said they saw the vehicle strike the rear of a sanitation truck and drive off.

When officers discovered the driver, Demitri Washington, had a felony warrant for burglary out for him, they arrested him.

Police said that during the arrest, Thomas got out of the car and approached officers. When she refused to return to the car, Officer Anthony Plummer shocked her from behind with a Taser gun.

"She said she felt like she had a seizure. She felt a sting in her back and then she went down," City Councilman Cecil Thomas said.

Thomas was charged with open container and obstructing official business.

News 5's Laura Borchers said that police told her late Sunday that Plummer did not follow policy, though they did not elaborate. On Monday, Chief Tom Streicher said the cruiser's videotape shows the officer was not in compliance with policy during the use of the Taser and resulted in an excessive use of force.

The video shows an officer pointing to Thomas after she exits the car. Plummer moves toward her and demands that Thomas get on the ground, warning that he will use the Taser.

In the video, Thomas approaches with her hands in the air, and appears to go down on her knees as Plummer warns her again to get on the ground. After another warning, Plummer leans forward and shocks Thomas, who screams and falls to the ground.

"This is absolutely is not in compliance with our policy and procedures," Streicher said.

The chief made it clear, he's not happy with Plummer's actions.

"That concerns all officers and for the chief to say because someone has their hands up they are not a threat, say that to officers' families across this country who lost their lives when someone has had their hands up and still been able to come after them or get to a weapon," Fraternal Order of Police President Kathy Harrell said.

While Plummer and the FOP called the use of the Taser justified, Streicher said policy was disobeyed, and not just this time.

"Adding to the concern we have is that this officer has been dismissed in the past for using excessive force and using a Taser," Streicher said.

Plummer was fired by the police department previously, but rehired about a year ago after mediation.

"That arbitrator looked at the evidence and said, 'You know what, you should not have fired officer Plummer. He have him his job back,'" Harrell said.

Streicher told radio host Lincoln Ware that the last time he recalled an officer being involved in an excessive force use of a Taser also involved Plummer.

Prior to 2004, the Citizens Complaint Authority heard allegations from 10 people against Plummer. Six of those were for excessive force.

"I'm a little big angry right now, but again, I've got to hold my anger and expect our law enforcement agency will do what they're supposed to do," Cecil Thomas said. "This has really, really disturbed me to see this happen to my daughter."

Celeste Thomas told News 5 that she received a thorough exam at a hospital.

She pled not guilty in court Monday on the obstructing official business and possessing an open bottle of vodka.

Plummer's union rep said they are prepared to fight once again if he is fired. The city would then bring in a third party arbitrator and fight for his job to be re-instated.

His suspension means he's doing desk work, but is still a part of the police force and still collecting paychecks -- just not doing patrols.