Body cam video shows Miami University student's arrest, officer cleared of excessive force
By: Oxford police have finally released body camera footage showing a controversial arrest that's at the center of a use of force investigation.
The November arrest blew up on social media nearly a month later. Oxford's attorney notes that the footage is muted as the law department continues redaction.
The video comes on the heels of the Butler County Sheriff and Prosecutor agreeing that the officer didn't use excessive force while arresting that Miami University student.
In the original surveillance video posted to TikTok, you can see the officer run over to help break up a fight before hitting the student.
Blauvelt, the officer in question, said Johnson was resisting and didn't follow orders.
You can now see the officer's hand on Johnson's face, while Johnson uses his other hand to reach up.
"The tape shows exactly what happened. Under the circumstances, I determined that there was no excessive force utilized and that the police officer acted appropriately in affecting the arrest of somebody who was resisting arrest," said Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser.
Gmoser said the officer had other tools he could've used such as a gun, baton, mace, or a taster but chose his fist.
Johnson said something after the strikes, but we don't know who he's speaking to or what is said.
"We're not dealing with a person of slight build or very advanced age, we're talking about a young man, 6'1 inches tall, versus a police officer that's 5'9," Gmoser said.
Other Miami organizations are standing in solidarity with the student. They want justice for the man who is facing four misdemeanor charges.
The university's chapter of Sigma Lambda Gamma writes, "no matter what led to this happening, this never should have escalated to the excessive force that was used on this student."
The Faculty Alliance of Miami agrees, saying, "no Miami student, and no citizen, should ever fear for their safety when interacting with the police."
Other officers were on the scene. Local 12 received four body cam videos and two surveillance videos.
The footage from officers shows them talking with multiple witnesses.
Officer Blauvelt is on paid administrative leave, as the department has asked another outside agency to determine if that officer violated policy. It's standard for an officer to be on paid administrative leave for an investigation like this.
Johnson has pled not guilty to the charges of resisting arrest, assault, criminal trespass and underage possession.
He's set to be in court in February.