Toledo police officers suspended for actions during traffic stop

TOLEDO, Ohio – Two Toledo police officers are being disciplined after an internal investigation found they violated department policy during the January traffic shutdown.

In reports released Monday by Toledo Public Safety Director Brian Byrd, Officer Adam Hobbs and Officer Ashlyn Plough received the following:

Charge 1 (unnecessary use of physical control): 20-day suspension (10 with pay, 10 without pay). Kept on probation for three years.

Charge 2 (behaviour): Verbal reprimand

Charge 1 (conduct): 1 work day suspension (0 without pay). Kept on probation for three years.

Police Chief Michael Troendl issued a lengthy statement on the matter.

“When I became police chief, I assured the men and women of the Toledo Police Department that as long as they were doing their jobs properly, I would fully support them,” Chief Troendl said. “However, I have also made it clear that those employees who fail to meet the high expectations set by both our department and the residents of this city will be held accountable for their actions. Unfortunately, the actions of the two employees who managed the road transport stop on January 1, 2023 did not live up to these high expectations.”

The discipline was recommended by Assistant Police Chief Susan Surgo and approved by Byrd. Byrd’s written message to both officers contains the same passage:

“Please note that I agree with the recommendation of Assistant Chief Surgo. You must recognize the serious nature of your actions and understand that it is your responsibility to ensure that similar violations do not occur in the future. Similar actions on your part should lead to stricter discipline up to dismissal.”

Both officers had been disciplined for previous incidents in their careers.

During the January incident, Officers Plough and Hobbs are seen on dash and body cameras using strong physical force while arresting two women accused of reckless driving in a vehicle they stopped. The footage shows the incident started when two police officers stopped a car they claimed was passing a tow truck assisting at the scene of the accident.

BODY AND CAMERA BELOW

Melvena Smith was in the driver’s seat of the car and Kailyn Smart was in the passenger seat. In the TPD report, officers claimed they smelled alcohol and an open bottle of tequila was seen on the passenger side floor.

Hobbs’ body camera shows officers demanding the passengers get out of the car as Hobbs opens the passenger door.

“Why did you open the door like that,” Smart asked.

“You just went through an accident scene and you just hit another car,” Hobbs said.

Hobbs and Smart then repeatedly tell each other to shut up before Hobbs orders Smart out of the car.

When Smart doesn’t immediately comply with this order, Hobbs is seen yanking her out of the car, throwing her to the ground and calling her profanities as he repeatedly punches her with his stun-closed hands. A woman can be heard asking Smith to call her mom.

In the incident report, Hobbs wrote that Smart scratched his face several times and spit food at him.

Driver Smith then approached the scene. Officer Plouffe then grabbed Smith and attempted to handcuff her, but Smith backed away and began kicking Officer Plouffe in the leg.

Officer Plough then grabbed Smith by the hair, Officers Plough and Hobbs together wrestled her to the ground and handcuffed her.

Officer Plough then yelled for Smith to let go of her arm and could be seen hitting Smith several times while she was handcuffed. Smith and Smart accused Officers Plaff and Hobbs of abuse as they were escorted into a police cruiser.

Both women were charged with assaulting an officer, and Smith was charged with driving under the influence. But Smith was not breathalyzed at the time, according to the police report.