Roger Owensby Jr. facts for kids

Roger Owensby Jr. (born March 27, 1971 – died November 7, 2000) was an African American man. He passed away on November 7, 2000, after a chase and struggle with the Cincinnati Police Department in the Roselawn area of Cincinnati, Ohio. His death was a key event that led to protests and discussions about police actions in the city.

About Roger Owensby Jr.

Roger Owensby Jr. was a sergeant in the United States Army. He served for eight years, including during the Persian Gulf War and in Bosnia. He worked as an army cook.

At the time of his death, he had a 9-year-old daughter. His parents and other family members survived him. He had no previous record with the police.

Years later, on March 16, 2006, his family reached a settlement of $6.5 million with the city. This agreement came after a court decided that the city had not protected his health and that police were careless.

The Day He Died

On November 7, 2000, Roger Owensby Jr. was leaving a store in Bond Hill, Cincinnati. Two police officers stopped him and searched him for about 15 minutes. He then ran away, and the officers chased him.

After a struggle, several officers tackled him to the ground and put handcuffs on him. He was then placed in a police car, where he later died. Officer Robert 'Blaine' Jorg and Officer Patrick Caton were the main officers involved.

During the investigation, different stories came out from witnesses and the media. No officers were found guilty of crimes, but some were disciplined for not following police rules.

Roger Owensby Sr., Roger Jr.'s father, wrote to the mayor of Cincinnati. He said that witnesses told him they felt pressured by the police and investigators.

Impact on Cincinnati

Roger Owensby Jr.'s death was a very important event. It increased racial tension in Cincinnati. It became one of the reasons for the 2001 Cincinnati Riots.

He was the twelfth black man to die while in police custody or after a confrontation with police since 1995. While the investigation into Owensby's death was happening, another young black man, Timothy Thomas, was shot by a Cincinnati police officer. The combination of these events led to the riots in 2001.

Court Cases and Outcomes

Initial Charges

On January 3, 2001, officers Jorg and Caton faced charges related to Owensby's death. The main question was which officer might have caused his death by using too much force. Both officers had separate trials, but neither was found to have caused his death.

Witness Accounts

During the trials, witnesses gave different accounts of what happened. One witness said Officer Jorg used a chokehold on Owensby. However, Jorg said he only held Owensby's head to protect him.

The medical examiner said Owensby died from suffocation. But the examiner could not confirm if Owensby had bruises from punches, as some witnesses claimed.

Police witnesses also gave different stories. A deputy medical examiner said Owensby was already dead when he was put in the police car. But officers said Owensby was still moving when they led him to the car. One officer said he saw Officer Caton punch Owensby while he was handcuffed. However, other officers did not support this claim.

Trial Results

Officer Caton was found not guilty. Officer Jorg's case ended in a mistrial, meaning the jury could not agree on a verdict. The prosecutor decided not to try Jorg again.

The jury had 10 white and two black members. This outcome upset many black activists and people in the community. They felt that black individuals were not getting fair treatment.

In 2005, a Cincinnati Council Member asked to reopen the case. However, the prosecutor refused, saying there was no new evidence.

After the Trials

An article in Cincinnati CityBeat suggested that some important information was not shown during the trials. This included two witnesses from a store video who were not called to speak. Also, there were differences in what two officers said about why they were there.

In 2004, the Owensby family filed a lawsuit. A federal judge decided that the trial could go forward. The judge stated that a jury could reasonably find that the officers did not provide Owensby with needed medical care.

On March 17, 2006, the city and the Owensby family agreed to a $6.5 million settlement. This happened after a federal judge ruled that police had violated Owensby's civil rights by not giving him medical help.

The United States Department of Justice continued to investigate if any officers should face federal charges. Local investigations had not agreed on whether the officers acted wrongly.

Lawsuit About Racial Profiling

A group of people filed a lawsuit against Cincinnati and its police force. This lawsuit, filed on March 14, 2001, included claims from black men and their families who had died since 1995. They said police were unfairly targeting African Americans, a practice known as racial profiling.

They wanted the police department to change its behavior, not just pay damages. On August 7, 2002, a federal judge approved a settlement. This agreement included a five-year plan to make changes within the police department. It also ended a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Cincinnati Black United Front, which claimed police had harassed African Americans for decades.

What Happened to the Officers

The Cincinnati police began internal reviews to decide if seven officers involved in Owensby's death should be disciplined. They were accused of using too much force, not behaving well, and neglecting their duties.

Officer Caton later won his case against being fired and was able to work for the police force again. He was promoted to lieutenant in early 2016.

Officer Jorg resigned from the Cincinnati police force. He then worked for another police force nearby until mid-2003. He later moved from Cincinnati and is now a pastor in Pennsylvania. Jorg also wrote a book called 13 Minutes, sharing his side of the story.

Documentary

In 2014, a documentary called Cincinnati Goddamn was released. Paul Hill and April Martin directed it. The film explores police actions, institutional racism, and how people in Cincinnati worked together to make changes.