Former Hamilton County Deputy Charged with Excessive Use of Force

CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has charged Jason Mize, 31, of Cincinnati, with using unreasonable force while acting under color of law in an indictment returned here yesterday and unsealed today.

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the charges.

According to the indictment, on August 20, 2016, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a 61-year-old individual and brought him to the county Justice Center for processing.

While the victim was in medical intake, Mize allegedly approached the victim from behind and told the individual to stand. It is alleged that Mize then pushed the victim towards a holding cell, shoving the victim with such force that the victim collided headfirst with a concrete wall. The victim suffered bodily injury, including lacerations to his scalp and a leg fracture.

Mize is charged with one count of depravation of rights under color of law, a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. He was arrested today by FBI agents.

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI, and Assistant United States Attorneys Megan Gaffney and Ebunoluwa Taiwo, who are prosecuting the case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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