NEWS

Jaywalking video maker in jail on contempt charge

Cameron Knight
cknight@enquirer.com
Charles Harrell

The maker of a viral video depicting a controversial pedestrian arrest has been held in jail since Friday on a contempt of court charge after a lawyer reported that he took photos with his cell phone inside the courthouse.

The video of the initial arrest filmed in Over-the-Rhine has prompted two Cincinnati Police Department investigations.

Charles Harrell, 29, was charged and arrested Friday. In an affidavit, Bernadette Longano, an attorney who has previously represented the City of Cincinnati in court, said she witnessed Harrell taking photos of two CPD officers in a hallway at the Hamilton County Courthouse on Tuesday.

She stated that on Friday she saw a photo of the officers posted on Harrell's Facebook page.

Jail records indicate Harrell is being held without bond. Harrell is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday on the contempt charge and other charges related to the pedestrian stop.

The Hamilton County Courthouse security policy bans cell phones and cameras from being used in "in any courtroom or hearing room, jury room, judge's chambers or ancillary area (to be determined in the sole discretion of the Court) without the express permission of the Court."

A photo of three people, who appear to be in police uniforms, was posted to Chris Harrell's Facebook page Tuesday. The post states, "I'm in court."

Harrell was charged with obstruction of justice, resisting arrest, possession of marijuana and a pedestrian violation for jaywalking after being stopped by officer Baron Osterman. He posted a video of the Feb. 6 encounter on his Facebook page.

Harrell pleaded guilty to the drug charge, and not guilty to all other charges. He paid bond on the of the charges that required it.

CPD announced Friday that internal and citizen complaint investigations have been launched after the video began getting attention on social media.

Harrell is one of 16 people who have been charged with contempt of court in Hamilton County in the past year. Of those, he is the only one who was charged for allegedly taking photos in court.

He shares the charge of "indirect" contempt of court with one other person in the past year who caused a disturbance in a hallway. All of the others charged were said to have directly disrupted court proceedings, most often yelling, cursing or threatening court personnel.