ELYRIA, Ohio — The city of Elyria has released body camera video showing a home raid where a mother says her toddler was injured.
The footage, which was published on the city's YouTube page, is highly redacted but still gives viewers an idea of what happened when officers executed a search warrant for the house on Parmely Avenue last week. You can watch all eight clips here.
As previously seen in a Ring doorbell recording obtained days ago, Officers are heard banging on the door and announcing themselves as having a search warrant. Then, a battering ram is used before a flash-bang grenade is thrown into the right bay window of the residence.
Courtney Price was in the house with her 17-month-old son Waylon, and can be heard on the video screaming as officers make their way inside. She comes to the doorway with her hands up before being handcuffed outside, telling authorities, "My baby's in there on a ventilator."
"I was very respectful," Price later told 3News. "I complied to everything they asked me to."
Waylon is blurred in the bodycam video but can still be spotted in his bouncer next to his crib, dancing to the music playing on the television. However, it would be six minutes before any of the officers acknowledge the child, who has multiple health issues.
Waylon's mother says he slept through all of the noise, and after 10 minutes, Price's handcuffs were taken off and the pair were reunited. First responders checked on the child, deeming his lungs sounded OK.
Waylon was taken to UH Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, and while he is now out of the ICU, Price claims he is being treated for inflammation of the lungs and irritation of the eyes, along with the lingering effects of smoke from the flash-bang. Elyria police strongly denied the toddler had been exposed to chemical irritants and asserted he had been given proper medical attention.
Speaking with WKYC, Price acknowledged Waylon looked to be alright in the bodycam footage. That's why she's perplexed as to why he's ended up in the hospital for nearly a week.
"Maybe my son wasn't crying in the video. Like, in that moment, he was OK" she said. "But it's the effects that they've left him with."
Price further stated an officer told her his team had gone to the wrong house, something police also said wasn't true. However, while the search warrant obtained by 3News had the Parmely Avenue address, the document was for a teen suspect, even though the house is now owned by Price's aunt and uncle Redia and Marlon Jennings. Both are adamant they have no connection to the suspect.
"I feel like a little bit of detective work probably would've went a long way," Reida Jennings stated, "because [I conducted] a simple Google search and I found the previous tenants in about six seconds."
In addition, we also examined the Ring doorbell video from the home itself. While the camera had been damaged by the battering ram and flash-bang, the audio kept rolling, and one officer can be heard clearly stating, "Whoa, it's the wrong house." Another answers, "I think so."
Elyria Mayor Kevin Brubaker, who has ordered a full review of the incident, released the following statement after the footage was released:
"On January 11th, 2024, the Elyria Police Department executed a search warrant on Parmely Avenue. Following this, allegations of police misconduct arose. I instructed City officials to gather footage from cameras worn by officers on the scene. Given the extreme and disturbing nature of the allegations, I requested that footage be reviewed and released to the public as soon as possible.
"Today, that review process, which is required by law, was completed on footage captured by several body-worn cameras. I am releasing that footage now. In addition, I am also releasing several statements and reports written after the incident by those on scene, including a written explanation of all personal information redactions.
"The footage captured clear video and audio of the search warrant’s execution, including officers’ actions both inside and outside the home. The footage also includes interactions with both the mother and child throughout the incident.
"While the footage captured clearly illustrates what did and did not occur when the search warrant was executed, it does not answer questions of what led to the warrant itself. To answer those questions, I have also requested an external investigation.
"At approximately 4:00 p.m. yesterday, January 15th, my office requested the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office begin an investigation into the process to obtain the search warrant, as well as the incident itself. Given the extreme nature of the allegations, I want all remaining questions answered transparently and independently.
"I again thank Elyrians for your patience as we worked to get the facts out to you, and I thank the many City staff members who expedited that process."