Investigations by two separate Ohio agencies have concluded that police were justified in their deployment of pepper spray and other actions to de-escalate the postgame brawl between Ohio State and Michigan on Nov. 30.
The reviews, obtained by The Athletic following a public records request, revealed more details about the melee, including a strike delivered by an officer at a player, a threat to tase another player and one fan who was arrested amid the chaos.
Following Ohio State's 13-10 loss to Michigan, Wolverine players gathered around midfield and attempted to plant a team flag at the 50-yard line as the Buckeyes sang Carmen Ohio. Ohio State players heard cheers from Michigan fans, turned to see what was unfolding, and ran to meet the Michigan players. They arrived just after the flag was stabbed into the ground. The brawl unfolded from there.
Multiple fights breaking out after Michigan takes down Ohio State for the 4th straight year #Buckeyes pic.twitter.com/jURVibT6kG
— Nicole Shearin (@NicoleShearintv) November 30, 2024
Officers from multiple agencies were involved in trying to de-escalate the situation and disperse the players. A review by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office said it is unclear whether University of Michigan police or Franklin County officers deployed pepper spray first.
Ohio State University police detective Douglas Cunningham wrote in the Franklin County report that initial attempts to “suppress the aggressive, combative and growing crowd and to regain order” didn’t work.
“Several people were on the ground, police officers were being pushed and shoved by large, highly trained and skilled division one football athletes in full football game attire,” Cunningham wrote. “The players had the advantage in both size, strength, conditioning, protective gear and they outnumbered the police presence trying to suppress the growing threat.”
Cunningham added that he applied a short burst of pepper spray himself.
Additional reports from the Franklin County Internal Affairs Bureau found that lieutenant Shawn Pak was justified in his threat to tase another player who tried to charge past him during the incident. Body cam footage showed the player to be a 300-plus pound lineman. The taser was never turned on as the player backed off.
“Due to his size and protective gear, I placed my Taser into the unpadded section of his back, pushed him away from the crowd, and warned him I would use my Taser,” Pak wrote in the report.
The IA reports also found that Franklin County deputy Thomas Bellamy was justified in his striking of a Michigan player and deployment of pepper spray. Bellamy came across the player standing over an Ohio State police officer.
“Due to the officer’s back and weapon being exposed and uncertain of the player’s intentions amidst the chaos … I used a single handstrike with a closed fist to the neck area (due to the player wearing a helmet and pads) in an effort to force him off the pile,” Bellamy wrote.
Abraham Clark, a 45-year-old Florida resident, was the lone fan arrested in the incident, per the reports. He told police he ran on the field “to prevent Michigan from planting their flag.” Clark was charged with criminal trespassing and his trial is scheduled for March 11.
Eleven Warriors also conducted a video review of some of the violence that occurred between Ohio State and Michigan players on Dec. 1. The Big Ten fined Ohio State and Michigan $100,000 each for their roles in the incident.
