First Posted: 3/12/2015
LIMA — The man who filed the complaint against the Lima Police Department Monday has spoken out about his recollection of the evening.
For Dartaniel L. Horton, 37, of Lima, it would be common to stay at The Firehouse bar after a fight has broken out, which is what happened late Friday evening into Saturday morning.
Officers were behind the bar checking out a parked car when a fight began inside, Lima Police Chief Kevin Martin said in a previous interview. The officers went inside to break up the commotion.
Horton was at the bar that evening when the fight happened, but he said he wasn’t involved in it. Once Horton realized officers were yelling at him, he said he was surprised.
Once he was told to leave, Horton said officers took the beer he was drinking out of his hand and slammed it on the bar.
He began walking past the officer when he was grabbed by officers and notified he was under arrest, he said. He was then slammed against a speaker and beaten and later Tased by three Tasers.
Horton claimed to have also pretended to pass out.
Lima Police Chief Kevin Martin disputed some of Horton’s claims, however.
“Just because (Horton) didn’t want to leave (the bar) is not an excuse for him to become verbal with the officers and approaching them,” Lima Police Chief Kevin Martin said.
Horton was advised “multiple times” to leave and became confrontational with officers, Martin said in a previous interview. Horton was then placed under arrest.
While struggling with officers, Martin agreed that at least two Tasers were used to subdue Horton because the first attempt with a Taser drive-stun method was ineffective. A drive-stun method is when a Taser makes immediate contact with skin, Martin said.
There was no evidence to confirm Horton’s allegation of being struck in the head by officers. Reports also contradict Horton’s allegation of pretending to pass out, Martin said.
The initial reason for Horton’s arrest was intoxication and failure to disperse, Martin said. He was later charged with resisting arrest and obstructing official business for struggling with officers during his arrest.
Horton pleaded not guilty to the charges. A court date has not been set.
