Oshae Jones says arrest unjust, demands charges be dropped
TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) - An apology and a dismissal -- that’s what the lawyers for Olympic Bronze Medal winning boxer and Toledoan Oshae Jones is asking.
She was arrested at her home last month. Now her lawyers say this is a chance to restore her reputation. They’ve given the city one week to respond.
Those lawyers have put out a statement telling what they say is Jones’ side of the story. They say what happened that night wasn’t right. Their version of the story is that Oshae Jones had nothing to do with the original incident that brought Toledo Police to her home.
The Toledo Municipal Court affidavit says officers came to Jones’ home around 4:00 AM on July 31st for what they call “a large scene of people participating in a course of disorderly conduct.” Lawyers for jones say she wasn’t part of whatever that disturbance was on her porch.
“Ms. Jones was asleep in her bed and she heard pounding on her door as police attempted to kick it in. When she came downstairs, she simply asked for a badge number,” said John Bay, Jones’ lawyer. “When that happened, she was assaulted and handcuffed, and her life was changed.”
Bay tells 13abc that an officer banged their foot against the door several times and that’s when Jones came down. In that court affidavit, officers say Jones failed to obey their orders and began resisting arrest by pulling away from officers as they tried to handcuff her.
She’s pleaded not guilty to charges of resisting arrest, obstructing official business and failure to disperse. Her lawyers want those cases against the 2020 Olympic welterweight bronze medalist to go away -- and more.
“What we’re looking for here, today, is simply a dismissal of the charges. We’re looking for a formal apology and we’re looking for the opportunity for her reputation to be put back intact,” said Bay.
When 13abc asked Toledo Police for the full incident report and body cam videos earlier this month, we were told an internal investigation into the incident had begun and nothing would be released.
Tuesday, the department once again said: “The incident is currently under an internal investigation. Per collective bargaining agreements, we are unable to make a statement at this time.”
“What happened, we know was wrong. We’re talking about a national figure who’s been given the keys to the city, a national figure who has represented our country,” said Bay.
Jones is due back in court next Tuesday for a prosecutor pretrial on those criminal charges. Again her lawyers are asking for a dismissal and that apology in one week as well.
You can watch the full video statement from Jones’ lawyers below.
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