In the latest development concerning allegations of unlawful detention in Northeast Ohio, Special Agent Daniel LaJack has resigned from the Lake County Narcotics Agency. LaJack's resignation, effective on Monday, came before a scheduled disciplinary hearing related to his involvement in the detention of a man at a local bar this past April. According to Cleveland19, LaJack was accused of various criminal violations, including abduction and assault, in an incident that was partly captured on body camera footage.
The incident, which took place at Buzzard's Roost Sports Bar in Hinckley Township, also involved Cleveland Police Officer Donald Kopchak, who, as News 5 Cleveland reports, is currently on restricted duty. The two off-duty officers allegedly pinned down a truck driver from Texas, wrongly accusing him of being in the country illegally. The body camera footage suggests that, despite their demands for identification, which turned out to be valid, the officers, who had been drinking, detained the man under the mistaken belief that he was on a watchlist.
A deeper look into the event, provided by WKYC, raises questions about racial profiling and abuse of power. The victim, originally from East Africa, has been a legal resident in the United States for 14 years. Hinckley police questioned the validity of his identification, namely a Texas ID, which was then confirmed as legitimate despite initial claims by officers to the contrary.
The incident has prompted investigations and reviews regarding the conduct of law enforcement. "These guys are drunk," a Brunswick police sergeant is heard saying in the body camera footage addressing the actions of LaJack and Kopchak. Meanwhile, the narcotics agency dispatched a notice of disciplinary action, only for LaJack to resign shortly after. Officer Kopchak, however, remains with the Cleveland Police, albeit with interaction with the public currently restricted. He and a Cleveland Police officer believed the man to be an illegal immigrant, according to a statement obtained by WKYC.
