Video shows traffic stop involving Cuyahoga County sheriff's deputy turning violent
By: A traffic stop in downtown Cleveland led to a Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department deputy slamming a man to the ground, pointing a gun in his face, punching him, and tasing him multiple times back in December 2023, as seen in newly-released body camera video by the sheriff's office.
"Put your hands up, sir, I'm going to f--- you up, I'm telling you. Put your f---ing hands up," a deputy is seen yelling in the footage which 3News obtained on Monday.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Dec. 8, 2023 when deputies pulled over 46-year-old Kevin Kinds in downtown Cleveland.
Deputies reported Kinds sped through a red light on Superior Avenue and East 6th Street, adding that he ignored a deputy's siren and emergency lights to pull over for a few blocks before complying on St. Clair Avenue, just outside the Cuyahoga County Justice Center.
Kinds was asked to exit the vehicle and back up with his hands up.
The incident report said that out of concern that Kinds was reaching to pull a weapon from his waist, Sgt. Timothy Coyne administered several closed hand strikes to Kinds' face, explaining that, "at the time of the strikes the driver was able to turn on his back and struck Sgt. Coyne in the forehead."
The newly-released video showed that Kinds was taken to the ground while appearing to resist arrest.
"Sgt. Coyne gave the driver three closed fist blows to his left ribs in another attempt to get the driver to comply with orders," the incident report continued.
Coyne is then seen pointing a gun at Kinds' head while saying, "I said put your f---ing hands up, or I'm going to drill you in the f---ing head." Coyne is then heard telling Kinds he's going to tase him if he does not comply.
"I'm gonna tase you, dude," Coyne is heard saying before tasing Kinds three times over the next 45 seconds before the suspect finally gives his hands to be handcuffed.
Throughout the struggle, Kinds had been heard yelling for help.
At the end of the body camera video, Kinds asks, “Why y’all got me cuffed up?"
"Because you’re under arrest, sir," a deputy responds.
"For what?" Kinds returns.
"For resisting arrest and for your warrants," the deputy continues. "It wasn't a very good resistance, but you resisted. We'll talk about that later, OK? Now we need to worry about you getting healthcare and making sure you're OK so you can take a nice trip to county jail when you're done.”
Kinds was indicted in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court for assault, obstruction and resisting arrest, but the case was dismissed on June 21 after defense attorneys argued his rights had been violated.
A Cuyahoga County spokesperson shared this statement about the case:
"Per departmental policy, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department conducted a Use of Force review. No law enforcement misconduct was found."
The spokesperson also told that Coyne remains employed with the sheriff's department.