Police in Dayton, Ohio, have made body camera footage public after an officer stopped a bicyclist for a traffic violation. The cyclist, identified as Reginald Thomas, 44, was found to be carrying a gun. He fled from the police and was ultimately shot during a struggle over the weapon.
The incident took place on Tuesday night around 9:30 p.m. near North St. Clair Street and East Third Street. According to statements from Police Chief Kamran Afzal, an officer on routine patrol noticed Thomas violating traffic rules and initiated a stop.
Initially, Thomas attempted to show his identification, even though it wasn’t asked for. The officer questioned him about whether he had a weapon, to which Thomas reportedly denied possessing one, as captured on the body camera footage.
Following this, Thomas abruptly dismounted his bike and took off running. The video shows officers quickly pursuing him and bringing him to the ground.
Body camera footage also indicates that Thomas seemed to have a firearm in his hand, prompting an officer to shout, “He’s got a gun!” After a physical altercation, one officer instructed Thomas to drop the weapon, which he did, allowing the officer to reholster his firearm.
However, just as the officer tried to handcuff Thomas, they found themselves struggling over the gun that Thomas had just released. Reports suggest that Thomas managed to reach for the weapon once more.
At that point, another officer arrived and fired at Thomas, hitting him. Emergency assistance was administered before he was transported to Miami Valley Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The officers involved in the incident, who both have three years of service, have not faced any disciplinary action thus far. Post-incident images were shared, highlighting the recovered gun and a loaded magazine, along with Thomas’s prior mugshot revealing past convictions for resisting arrest and assault.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a criminal investigation, while an internal inquiry will also be performed by the Dayton Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards.
