PICKAWAY COUNTY, Ohio — A deputy with the Pickaway Ohio County Sheriff’s office is facing criminal charges this afternoon after allegations he used excessive force in a traffic stop.
Sheriff Matthew Haffey reported that Deputy Ryan J. Howard is charged with assault, falsification, and dereliction of duty after an April 30 incident.
It’s alleged that Howard was involved in a pursuit with the South Bloomfield Police Department when it ended along route 23. It was there, that the suspect who was fleeing, crashed their car. While the Sheriff did not go into detail about the allegations lodged against Howard or what he is accused of doing, the Sheriff said an excessive force complaint was filed against the deputy and that he was placed on paid administrative leave.
“An investigation was conducted into the use of force complaint, which culminated into criminal charges…” said Sheriff Haffey. “An internal investigation, moving toward termination, is also underway into the use of force complaint that was filed.”
The Sheriff did not name the person that Howard is accused of assaulting during the arrest or the extent of their injuries.
Howard could not be reached for comment by the Guardian on Wednesday.
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