MASSILLON – City police are defending their use of pepper spray on high school student athletes after the end of the Oct. 3 football game against a St. Louis area team.
“We have thoroughly reviewed this incident and found (police officers) operated within our policies and procedures for the use-of-force action taken,” the department said in an Oct. 7 post on the agency’s Facebook page.
Video shows Massillon police deploying pepper spray toward fleeing Cardinal Ritter College Prep players after tempers flared during the post-game handshakes. Massillon won the game against the visiting team from Missouri 28-14.
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The Repository reached out to Cardinal Ritter for comment and had not received a response as of Oct. 7.
Cardinal Ritter’s President Tamiko Armstead reached out to Massillon City Schools Superintendent Paul Salvino via email, expressing her anger over the situation, according to Salvino. Salvino replied, suggesting she watch the video footage.
Armstead told St. Louis TV station Fox 2 that Cardinal Ritter is helping families and witnesses file formal complaints with the Massillon Police Department. She said the school also has reached out to the Ohio High School Athletic Association about any possible action it can take.
A parent told Fox 2 that she has also contacted the Ohio Civil Rights Commission about the incident. A message has been left Oct. 7 with the Ohio Civic Rights Commission seeking comment regarding any complaints possibly filed.
Armstead released a statement to Fox 2 TV saying, “We are aware of the incident that occurred at the Massillon, Ohio, football game last week, and we were very troubled by a video of what happened.”
Massillon police use pepper spray on opposing football team
Massillon police’s statement contends its officers were trying to deescalate the situation.
“Unfortunately, the conclusion of the game brought with it multiple physical altercations on the field between both teams. Team staff members, coaches, and Massillon police officers were forced to intervene and separate players …,” the department wrote.
“Officers gave lawful orders on multiple occasions for Cardinal Ritter players to leave the field and head toward their locker room. The verbal commands were an attempt to deescalate the pushing and shoving occurring. Those commands were ignored.
“At one point during the incident, a Massillon player’s facemask was grabbed; he was surrounded, and then chased by Cardinal Ritter players. Officers once again ordered the visiting team off the field,” the police statement said.
In the meantime, members of the Massillon marching band and cheerleaders came onto the field to play the school’s alma mater.
“This factor concerned officers as they continued to order Ritter players off the field,” the police statement said.
“The Ritter players again charged at Massillon players who were now near the band. This was an unfortunate and difficult situation for officers who, during the entirety of the incident, attempted to restore order. Ultimately, two Massillon police officers deployed pepper spray, which was effective.”
Massillon City Schools worried at end of Cardinal Ritter game
Salvino would not comment on the actions taken by the officers, only to say that the district has an agreement with the city to provide officers at games.
“They are there for the safety of our students and fans,” Salvino said. “They are trained and they have their own policies and procedures.”
Upon hearing comments coming from the Cardinal Ritter sideline toward the end of the game, a Massillon administrator went to monitor the opponent’s sideline, Salvino said. After hearing what was being said, he suggested that an officer be on the field at the end of the game.
“In the last four minutes of the game, we heard things being said by the opponent’s staff. We sent a couple of security personnel to the sidelines,” Salvino said. “We wanted to make sure the game ended and the teams went their separate ways.”
Salvino said that the players can be seen on video recordings lining up for the handshake when a few players from Cardinal Ritter approached Massillon players.
“You see our players putting their arms up in the air and walking backward to deescalate the situation,” he said.
At that point, coaches and school administrators stepped in, he said.
A Massillon player was then circled by Cardinal Ritter players, Salvino said, and then both sides appeared as if they were going to engage in an altercation.
“It had the potential of getting extremely heated,” he said.
At no time did the incidents become physical, he said. “Massillon police officers were down on the field and at some point, they made the decision to deploy some mace.”
Salvino does not anticipate any fallout from the OSHAA.
“It would be different if district personnel took that action, but these are all trained, certified officers,” Salvino added.
Reach Amy Knapp at amy.knapp@indeonline.com.
The Canton Repository sports department can be contacted via email at sports@cantonrep.com.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Massillon police defend pepper spraying opposing players after football game
Reporting by Amy L. Knapp, Canton Repository / The Repository
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