A local police chief arrested a trustee in Pickaway County's Scioto Township during a public meeting last week.
Less than five minutes into the Oct. 1 trustee meeting, which was streamed live on YouTube, Village of Harrisburg Police Chief John Murphy approached trustee Cory Wasmus.
"What, are you going to arrest me?" Wasmus asked.
"Yes, sir," Murphy said. "I need you to stand up."
"Excuse me?" Wasmus said.
Murphy cuffed Wasmus and asked if he was carrying a gun or had any sharp objects on his person.
Wasmus faces charges of obstructing official business, failure to comply with the order of a police officer, resisting or interfering with an official and driving at a slow speed.
In court documents filed in Franklin County Municipal Court, Murphy alleges that Wasmus interfered in a Sept. 19 traffic stop of several motorcyclists.
Murphy said Wasmus stopped and told the motorcyclists that they didn't have to listen to the chief's commands. Murphy said that led one motorcyclist to become confrontational.
Murphy also claims that Wasmus twice refused to leave when asked.
"The defendant's conduct — interfering with my commands to the stopped riders, provoking confrontation, and refusing two lawful orders to leave — hampered and impeded me in the performance of my official duties," Murphy wrote.
In the recording of the trustee meeting, Wasmus suggested the arrest was personal.
"I expect this is pure politics from a man who hates me," Wasmus said.
Wasmus' attorney, Sam Shamansky, said they will prove that in court.
"This is the most unprofessional police conduct I've witnessed in a long time," Shamansky told WOSU.
Murphy didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
