Ohio Officer Sued After Video Shows Him Dragging Black Passenger & Breaking His Nose for Questioning Orders

A federal civil rights lawsuit has been filed against Akron Police Officer Warren Spragg and the City of Akron, accusing Spragg of excessive force, assault, and false arrest after he violently dragged and beat a Black passenger, Terrell Battles, during a traffic stop on June 28, 2024. Battles was not the driver—his brother had been pulled over for expired tags and arrested for driving without a license. Despite complying by showing ID, Battles questioned why he needed to exit the car. Bodycam footage shows Officer Spragg forcibly pulling Battles out, throwing him to the ground, and punching him repeatedly in the head and torso. “Why are you punching me?” Battles can be heard asking, as one of the punches broke his nose.

Although charges of resisting arrest and obstruction were filed, they were later dismissed. The department’s own internal investigation deemed Spragg’s actions “objectively reasonable,” but the City of Akron’s Independent Police Auditor, Anthony Finnell, strongly disagreed. In a January 2025 report, Finnell found that Spragg used excessive force, failed to communicate effectively, and missed chances to de-escalate the situation. He recommended changing the internal ruling to “Not Objectively Reasonable” and called for disciplinary action.

Spragg has a documented pattern of similar behavior. Attorney Imokhai Okolo, who represents Battles, said Spragg had at least 27 use-of-force incidents in just 20 months—more than any other officer in the department. Finnell described Spragg as a “frequent flyer” and urged remedial training for him and others. The lawsuit also claims Akron has long tolerated violent policing, citing a “culture of violence” and a “police code of silence,” where excessive force often goes unpunished. The suit includes examples of other violent arrests involving unarmed Black individuals, such as Dierra Fields, who was body-slammed by an officer in her home.

Battles seeks compensatory and punitive damages for his physical and psychological trauma. “There is good cops and there is bad cops, but bad cops like that don’t deserve to protect,” he said. Akron has until late July to respond. Meanwhile, the city approved a $350,000 policy review to improve officer training and clarify when force should be used.

Link: Atlanta Black Star