State investigators are scrutinizing a Hamilton police sergeant’s use of force after a late-night arrest at Marcum Park on June 22, 2025, in which a suspect’s attorney says body-worn camera video shows the officer striking his client dozens of times. The man, 55-year-old Robert Thomas Jr., was booked into the Butler County jail and then taken to a hospital for evaluation following the encounter, according to court records.
Thomas’s attorney told reporters that he and a state special agent counted 41 baton strikes on the body-camera footage, calling the video “hard to watch,” as reported by FOX19. The attorney, who shared portions of the recording with the station, says Thomas still bears visible scars from the June arrest.
According to FOX19, the Hamilton Police Department has not publicly identified the sergeant because he has not been charged. The officer’s lawyer, Stew Mathews, told the station, “There are always two sides to every story.” The department released the arrest report and confirmed through the station that the sergeant’s work status remains active.
What the Arrest Report Says
The arrest report released by the department states that officers found Thomas inside Marcum Park after hours. It describes a brief struggle during which a Taser was deployed, followed by a longer altercation where the sergeant is reported to have used an extended baton while attempting to handcuff Thomas.
According to the report, Thomas faces charges of assault on a peace officer, resisting arrest, criminal trespass and possession of drug paraphernalia. The document also notes lacerations and swelling to Thomas’s head, arm and hand after the encounter.
The report says Thomas was transported to Fort Hamilton Hospital for evaluation following the arrest. That facility is now part of the Kettering Health Hamilton system. Kettering Health Hamilton confirms the Hamilton location serves as the area’s emergency and inpatient hospital.
State Review and BCI's Role
Butler County prosecutors sent the police report and body-worn camera videos to the Ohio Deputy Attorney General for law enforcement. That office asked the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions unit to act as special prosecutor and requested a review by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
The Ohio Attorney General’s office describes BCI as the statewide unit that offers specialized investigative support for officer-involved incidents and other complex cases. According to the office, BCI’s review of the Hamilton arrest is still ongoing.
Legal Implications
Under Ohio law, assault can be charged as a felony when the alleged victim is a peace officer carrying out official duties. The Ohio Revised Code outlines when an assault charge is elevated and the mandatory-term enhancements that apply when an officer suffers serious physical harm. See the Ohio Revised Code for the statute on assault and its classifications.
What’s Next
Thomas has entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. After a court-ordered evaluation, a judge later ruled him competent to stand trial. The case remains pending as the state review moves forward, and court officials have scheduled additional pretrial hearings for later this spring.
