Toledo apologizes for using armed security to patrol downtown area
Toledo OH June 9 2020
A weekend protest in Toledo’s Old West End neighborhood — like the vast majority of local demonstrations in recent days — ended peacefully Saturday night, despite the fact that both a pair of men associated with the protests and private security guards visibly carried firearms during the evening.
Now the actions of the security guards are under scrutiny, with a social media firestorm prompting the Old West End Security Board to suspend all security patrols because of complaints about the officers.
The armed demonstrators, meanwhile, were at the center of one of Saturday night’s most tense moments, and one of them has since been arrested by Toledo police.
Ben Grazzini, president of the OWES board, said trustees heard complaints about intimidation, security officers holding a shotgun in plain view, and officers following the protesters during the peaceful march. Posts on OWE’s Facebook page referenced protesters feeling uncomfortable and called for a contract with the security company to be terminated.
The board has contracted with IDER, a private security firm based in Toledo, since November, 2018 for neighborhood patrols. Mr. Grazzini said the board didn’t ask for patrols during the protest but also didn’t tell the company to stay away during that time, so officers were on their normal patrols while the protest was going on.
Trustees released a statement Sunday apologizing for not requesting in advance that security patrols stay out of the neighborhood during the march and called it a serious mistake.
Sara Haynes, OWES trustee and president of the Old West End Association board, said both organizations are supportive of peaceful protests and of the Black Lives Matter movement. The two organizations are separate with separate boards, although some people serve on both.
“This was a very, very unfortunate situation,” she said.
The owners of IDER, Dale and Keanna Cliche, were taken aback by the reaction to the company’s security patrols in Old West End on Saturday. Mr. Cliche said he believes the patrols were routine and officers hadn’t done anything differently from what they’d done the day before.
Routine patrols take about 30 minutes, and officers drive down every street in the neighborhood, Mr. Cliche said. While it might have looked like officers were following the protest, he doesn’t believe that’s what they were doing. He also emphasized that nobody at the company knew the protest was happening until security started doing its patrols.
He apologized for the security officers’ presence making protesters feel intimidated or uncomfortable.
“We wholeheartedly apologize,” he said. “That was not our intent.”
The shotgun that people referenced in their complaints is mounted in the car, he said, and it’s the same car that has been used in every patrol since the company contracted with the Old West End. He couldn’t recall hearing any complaints about the security patrols in Old West End before Saturday.
“We would definitely like to resume patrols and show that we are all in this together,” he said.
The group behind the Saturday march is called Hi-Frequency. It has organized many of the rallies and marches that have unfolded throughout the city following the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. But Saturday marked what appears to be the first time that armed participants were highly visible during a Hi-Frequency event, and intervened in a confrontation between protesters and members of the public.
During Saturday’s march, a passenger in a vehicle became upset about protesters blocking the intersection of Bancroft Street and Scottwood Boulevard. Armed demonstrators, along with protest leaders, approached the motorist. A conversation ensued and the the situation deescalated, with the upset passenger return to his vehicle.
Sir Maejor Page, a Hi-Frequency leader, said armed individuals have attended many of the Black Lives Matter protests organized by the group; openly carrying their weapons and helping to block traffic during the marches in order to protect those involved.
“They aren’t troublemakers. They are what I like to call, ‘problem solvers.’ When problems have arose during the route, these guys have gotten out and calmly approached,” Mr. Page said
One of the men present Saturday — Darius Smith, 26, has since been arrested by Toledo police for improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, and a misdemeanor display of license plate violation.
On Sunday, after another protest throughout Point Place, Mr. Smith drove a friend home and noticed a black, tinted car was following him, Mr. Page told The Blade. The vehicle then sped up closely behind him.
According to court records, Mr. Smith was observed with a loaded rifle on the front passenger seat and a loaded rifle on the ground in the back seat of the vehicle.
Mr. Smith was arrested and booked in the Lucas County jail.
Mr. Page said he spoke with Mr. Smith early Monday about the incident.
“They knew who he was, and they knew what role he played with me,” Mr. Page claims. “Because they can’t get to me now, I’m not going to say I can’t be touched, I have buffers, so they wanted to put a damper and front with him.”
Mr. Smith appeared in Toledo Municipal Court with defense attorney Sarah Driftmyer. A judge initially intended to set bond at $20,000, but after it was explained why Mr. Smith had the firearms, he was released on a recognizance bond.
“This happens in the movement and this ought to be talked about,” Mr. Page said.
