Hudson police are authorized to use deadly force only when a suspect poses a threat of serious harm or to prevent the escape of a violent felon who could hurt someone, according to office policy.
It’s yet to be determined whether Officer Ryan Doran followed the deadly force policy in shooting and killing an unarmed man who was fleeing from a car crash scene on Dec. 4. Authorities from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation are gathering evidence to make the determination. It could be months before a ruling is made, a spokeswoman said.
Until then, Doran is on paid administrative leave from the office. If investigators find the shooting was not justified, Doran could face criminal charges.
The man who died, 26-year-old Saif Alameri, was a Case Western Reserve University law student from the United Arab Emirates. His friends and colleagues said Alameri had been in the U.S. since the summer. They described him as friendly and respectful.
Alameri died of a gunshot wound to the head, the Summit County Medical Examiner ruled. In total, he was hit with bullets five times: one to the head, one to the face and three to the left leg.
Doran, who has worked for Hudson police since 2004, has an almost spotless record. The only blemish in his personnel file is an incident in May, when he misplaced a digital camera owned by the department.
‘Less lethal force’
According to the department’s policy on deadly force, officers should not fire warning shots. Hudson officers are also authorized to use “less lethal force” to “bring an unlawful situation safely and effectively under control.” Hudson officers learn such techniques, but the department does not equip its officers with stun guns.
The policy also dictates that officers should undergo firearms training.
Officers go through training to “simulate actual shooting situations and conditions” in an effort to “enhance officers’ discretion and judgment in using deadly and less lethal force.”
Police interaction with Alameri began at 2:40 p.m. on Dec. 4. Motorists on the Ohio Turnpike reported a car crash that left one vehicle mostly unharmed and a second on its roof.
Alameri exited the vehicle on its roof, and witnesses said he ran “wildly” from the scene. Dispatchers said in recordings that it’s possible Alameri had been driving while intoxicated. Toxicology reports have not been completed to confirm or deny the suspicion.
A search for Alameri ensued. Doran caught up to him at 3:01 p.m. near an access road in a wooded area about a half-mile north of the turnpike.
The sole recording of the shooting is a video from the dashboard of Doran’s cruiser. The shooting happened out of view of the dashcam, so only audio of the shooting exists. Hudson police do not equip officers with body cameras.
Six gunshots on audio
As captured on the dashcam, Doran’s altercation with Alameri lasted 90 seconds. After about a minute of rustling on the audio — which police describe as a struggle — six gunshots ring out.
Three shots were fired rapidly, followed by three more shots with a beat between each. A man can be heard moaning during the second set of shots.
The only weapon located at the scene was Doran’s gun. Authorities said Alameri was unarmed.
Following Alameri’s death, Case Western set up a temporary memorial — including his picture and well wishes in Arabic — for students to write their condolences to his family.
As of Wednesday afternoon, about a dozen students had left messages.
According to a short biography placed at the memorial, Alameri started a master’s program for international business law this fall.
He had graduated with a bachelor’s degree in law from United Arab Emirates University in June 2014 and obtained a scholarship to attend school in the U.S. He wanted one day to lead a law firm in his home country.
Nick Glunt can be reached at 330-996-3565 or nglunt@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @NickGluntABJ and on Facebook @JournoNickGlunt .