Nation Outraged Over Whitehall Police Incident
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Police Incident On YouTube
Video of police subduing an armed elderly woman has started some problems for local police.
An elderly woman with a weapon was taken to the ground by a Whitehall officer—and the incident was caught on tape. Now, video of the incident has created new problems for the local police department as citizens from around the country question the force used.
WHITEHALL, Ohio —An elderly woman with a weapon was taken to the ground by a Whitehall officer—and the incident was caught on tape.
Now, video of the incident has created new problems for the local police department as citizens from around the country question the force used.
The cell phone video ended up on YouTube—and the local police department said it has changed the way they work, NBC 4‘s Mike Bowersock reported.
Virginia Dotson was wandering the Walmart parking lot at 3657 E. Main St. the evening of Aug. 1 with a steak knife. She was telling strangers she would cut them and already had cut herself.
Whitehall officers were called to the scene, but some witnesses said officers used too much force in subduing the woman.
Dotson’s daughter said Dotson found a steak knife in the vehicle, cut herself out of her seat belt and took the knife with her while searching for her daughter.
Dotson, who is believed to be 84 years old, was treated and released from Mount Carmel Medical Center for the head injuries she received when she was taken to the ground.
All seemed said and done with the incident until the video hit YouTube.
Now, Whitehall police are receiving phone calls from around the nation—even though there was little outrage in Central Ohio when the incident occurred.
“We’ve had people from Hollywood calling. We’ve had people from St. Louis, Houston, New York,“ said Whitehall Police Chief Richard Zitzke.
Zitzke estimates the department has received between 100 and 150 calls, some which tied up the phone line for an hour.
“We’ve had one or two people that just called and yelled and hung up the phone. We’ve had actually some death threats towards the officer,“ he said.
Zitzke said the phone calls have started to tax the department’s resources, but officers have stayed on the phone with some callers to explain the situation.
“Other than all the problems from YouTube, we’re pretty happy that it was actually videotaped because that substantiates in our mind what the officer did and gave us a pretty clear indication right away that everything was just about as good as it could have gone,“ Zitzke said.
Dotson was not charged with any crime.
Wednesday morning, The Fraternal Order of Police, Capital City Lodge 9, announced it supports the actions taken by Officer Scott, adding that she acted in accordance with her training and within policy.
Click here to watch Brown’s video on YouTube. It does contain profanity.
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Reader Reactions
Well if he ever decided to rob people etc. I will personally kick his behind over and over again and then throw him in jail myself! I completely agree that no one is perfect but I will always try to stay optimistic and fair and not blame an entire group for the bad ones that got mixed in. This was the point of my tangent on this article. I will not hold all cops accountable because a couple that I have come across were jerks or that all people that live on Parsons Ave. are bad people because I was almost car jacked there once and followed by someone else another time. (I was going to the post office when I worked downtown) Every person should be judged as an individual and not ridiculed for others mistakes.
I understand and can completely relate. This is a ongoing cycle that few can pull up out of. At least he is not robbing ppl at gunpoint or attempting home invasions. I am glad you opened up. My entire tangent on this article page was to get at least one person to admit that no one is perfect, not even the officer in this situation nor the daughter of the elderly lady. Neither individual should be blamed nor bashed because of this incident. If anything, events like this are to teach and prepare the unexperienced, just in case.
I will never give up on my brother and I love him very much so please do not misunderstand that. I will always push for him to make something of his life for his sons sake. He knows that I do not agree with his work ethic and what he has currently chosen for his life. He cannot justify to me of why a healthy 22 (sorry he just had a bday) year old male doesn’t have a full time job to support his family nor has he ever and a wife that is 29 that hasn’t had a job in 5+ years. It is very irresponsible on both their parts and for that their children will be the ones to suffer in the end if they don’t get their stuff together. I will always be there for my brother when he needs me, but I will never never give him money as long as he lives this way. I will not be another pocket that he is reaching into.
“I just try and get people to take a step back and look at each situation as it is instead of sterotyping it would be an accomplishment.“
This needs to be practiced in every situation. Do you honestly think that your brother is pathetic because he was not as strong minded as you? Could you one day realize that in his mind there is a justifiable reason for his behaviors, and although you may not agree with them you could try to understand and encourage? (doesn’t always work, but we cannnot give up on people) I come across the way I do because I lwill always love and understand the strugglers as I attempt to discourage the negativity that feeds their motives.
Cook - I agree, I’m sure that I’m wasting my breath, but if one person actually listens and gets it that is a plus. I just try and get people to take a step back and look at each situation as it is instead of sterotyping it would be an accomplishment.
Patriots we may as well save our breath. There is always going to be a fring of society that neither trusts or respects anyone. They will always blame others for their lot in life and will teach their children to do the same. I did not have a bad childhood and I don’t intend to appologize for that. I moved out when I was 18 and have been responsible for myself ever since. Some people seem to perfer to be “victims of society”.
TTR - Holy crap! We’ve made a break through and agreed on something! :) Most of my family (including a brother) have chosen to keep the cycle of our parents going. Now at 21 he has a wife, 3 kids (2 aren’t his), no job, and lives off of the government. Most of his bills are behind (not house, cause its paid for by hud) but yet still has money to take a vacation. It’s very sad, but that was his choice. It’s hard to believe we grew up in the same house.
true. i was strong enough to make it out, but that wasn’t the case for majority of my family, which is the end result for many. I guess that is why we are all geared differently. I am on your side when it comes to the drains of society, although I know many that gave up hope do to negative interractions and feedback it is sad.
Curly - I’ll have to look into that book, sounds interesting!
TasteTheReality - I have respect for most people. I have respect for people that work everyday for a living and are responsible contributing citizens to society. I do not have respect for people that have made it a career of breaking the law, waiting on their next hand out from the government, and like to blame everyone else for their own short comings. These individuals are a drain on our society and cost everyone money.
I am sorry to hear about the neighborhood that you had to grow up in. I did not have the greatest of upbringings either. I am where I am today and who I am today, because I took a look at the lifestyle my parents and other family members led and decided that I was not going to continue the cycle. I have been on my own since I was 19 and worked very hard for everything that I have, no one gave me anything nor did I ever ask anyone for help. I decided that I only have one life to live and I’m going to do it my way and the right way and I’m not going to blame my family or what happened to me as a child as an excuse for my own short comings. If I make a mistake it was my mistake and a decision that I made myself, I refuse to use the excuse that my father was never there for me and my mother is an alcoholic, because that has absolutely nothing to do with my decisions right now. No one can change who their family is or their childhood, but no one but you has the choice on how you are going to live the rest of your life and how you want to be remembered.
we all are at risk everyday, so maybe you should respect everyone. Try growing up in a neighborhood where you have to protect yourself every second of the day, then you can convince me.
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