A San Antonio jogger has spoken publicly for the first time since the police mistook him as the suspect for a domestic violence call.
33-year-old Mathias Ometu was jogging on August 25 when the officers were searching for a suspect in a nearby domestic violence call.
The officers stopped him and said that they had “reasonable suspicion to believe” he “matched the description of an alleged strangulation family violence incident,” and then placed Ometu in handcuffs and claimed he assaulted them.
Witnesses recorded the incident, and the video showed the officers forcefully shoved him into a police vehicle as he screams.
“I was told to calm down, but there is nothing calm about placing an innocent man in the back of a police vehicle,” said Ometu at a recent press conference.
The officers detained him even after the victim confirmed that Ometu was not the suspect they were looking for, and remained in jail for two days before posting a $20,000 bond.
“I was physically, emotionally and mentally harmed, and that has to be addressed. Multiple cops either not knowing or ignoring the rights of Texas residents — this has to be addressed.”
Police reports said that Ometu refused to identify himself after several requests, and that his “demeanor became aggressive.”
He refused to get in the patrol vehicle, and was then “placed in the patrol vehicle” after a “long struggle using only open hand techniques.”
The report also said that Ometu allegedly kicked two officers, hitting one in the face.
Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales dismissed two charges of assault on a peace officer on Tuesday.
“After reviewing all the evidence as well as considering all the facts and circumstances, I have decided that the just outcome is the dismissal of all charges against Mr. Ometu” said Gonzales.
“It is important to note the officers involved in this case have requested dismissal as well.”
While the charges against Ometu was dismissed, he said his name is still not cleared.