Roger Owensby, Jr
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Roger Owensby, Jr was a twenty-nine-year-old black male who died November 7, 2000 during a scuffle with the Cincinnati Police Department.
He was a short statured man (5'9") and Seargent in the Persian Gulf War serving 8 years. He left behind a 9 year old daughter at the time of his death and was survived by his parents and other siblings. He had no previous police record. He was not known as a drug dealer, criminal or violent man in the neighborhood. He was pursuing his musical interests at the time of his death.
The incident was a pivotal moment that fueled the racial tensions that led to the 2001 Cincinnati Riots. The two main officers who were participants in the scuffle were Ofc. Jorg and Ofc. Caton. Several details came out of the investigation through independent media inquiries and contrary citizen testimony that several officers covered up or lied about what happened during the event. None of the officers that were involved in the incident were convicted of any criminal wrongdoing, but they were all disciplined for various levels of dereliction of duty or violation of police procedures.
[edit] Trial
- See Main Article: Roger Owensby Jr Criminal Trial
When the criminal trial was beginning and another lawsuit was being brought against the City of Cincinnati and CPD alleging racial bias in police use-of-force, Timothy Thomas died and it the recent history of racial tension erupted in the 2001 Cincinnati Riots.
