A Toledo Police officer who was reassigned after a controversial arrest of a teenage girl is now facing further community backlash for allegedly berating library staff during a police response last month.
Authorities have not released the officer’s name, but multiple sources confirmed to the 13 Action News I-TEAM that the same officer was involved in both incidents.
The officer, who pushed a 15-year-old girl to the ground while arresting her after stopping a group of teens for walking in the street, became a focal point of discussion during a Toledo City Council meeting on safety this week. During the meeting, Councilman Nick Komives said he had heard from concerned constituents about the officer’s recent conduct.
Internal reports from the Toledo Lucas County Public Library detail a March 11 incident at the Lagrange branch. A woman entered the library, caused a disturbance, screamed at staff, threatened them, and used racial slurs in front of children.
Library staff said they called police after the woman refused to leave. While waiting for officers to arrive, the woman walked outside and into traffic. Responding officers located her, spoke with her, and ultimately let her go.
Several staff members questioned why officers did not arrest the woman after she allegedly threatened them. According to the branch manager, officers said it was the suspect’s word against the staff’s, despite multiple witnesses in the room.
“One of the officers got very agitated and began shouting at her about how he doesn’t come to her job and tell her how to do it,” the branch manager wrote in a report. “He then repeatedly asked her where she got a law degree from.”
That response upset one library staff member, who felt stronger action should have been taken.
According to the report, the officer “continued to escalate the situation and shouted and stepped to her and said he would arrest her if she continued.” Another library employee stepped in to try to defuse the situation.
A separate library document described the officer’s behavior as berating and belittling.
Library records also state that police did not file a report about the incident. Officers told staff they had dealt with the woman multiple times before.
13 Action News has requested police footage and reports to better understand how the incident unfolded and will include that information once it becomes available.
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