Ohio State University Students Claim Columbus Police Falsely Arrested & Assaulted Black College Student

From [HERE] and [HERE] An honor student from The Ohio State University plans to fight a series of misdemeanor charges against him after his attorney tells ABC6/FOX28 the arresting officers used excessive force.  Joseph Hines, 20, was charged with resisting arrest and underage drinking among other charges August 30th after police stopped him at High Street and East 13th Avenue just before midnight.  According court documents, police say Hines "pulled away from them and attempted to flee."  They also wrote, Hines "fought on the ground causing cuts" to the arresting officer's legs and hands.

According the the Fraternal Order of Police, the arresting officers admitted to using force in arresting Hines by taking him to the ground and spraying him with mace.  Officers with internal affairs said they're also investigating the incident but would not comment further. Now students want to know why they weren't notified to what they're calling police brutality by the university. 

"I feel the university owes university students a word on this," said Martez Smith, O.S.U. senior.  "Regardless if it was provoked or not, what justifies someone being beaten in the middle of High Street."

Smith, a friend of Hines, and other students with the oraganization StandYourGround spoke out about Hines' case in the middle of the Oval Wednesday afternoon while collecting signatures as part of a petition.  The case had also generated its own facebook page in which a picture of Hines is posted just after his arrest.  The students planned to walk the 200 names into the university president's office to show they want more information in these matters that they call student safety issues.

"I feel someone was targeted based on race," said Smith.

Hines could face more than a year behind bars if found guilty for all five charges.  His next court date is scheduled for next month.  His attorney say this case will go to trial and not be resolved in a plea deal.

Efforts to reach Hines' family or his attorney have been unsuccessful. Hines is the son of the Rev. James and Leontyne Hines. James Hines is pastor of Jackson’s Lily Missionary Baptist Church and Lily Missions Center, 1117 W.G. Wade Drive, and the 2002 Jackson Citizen Patriot Citizen of the Year.

A 2010 graduate of Jackson High School, Joseph Hines was a standout scholar and athlete in football, basketball and baseball. His speed, strength and smarts drew all-area and all-conference honors, as well as interest from several universities, including Harvard, Princeton, Ohio State and Bowling Green.

In 2009, Hines was a state winner in the Wendy's High School Heisman Award, which recognizes athletics, academics and a student-athlete's involvement in community and school leadership.

He was active in student government and served as the youth coordinator for Lily Missions Center, as well as worked on several community canned food drives and other service projects through Jackson High School.

According to the unofficial police report and court documents, Hines was arrested at 11:45 p.m. Aug. 29 at 4 E. 13th Ave., across the street from the Ohio State University Union.

"Arrestee was seen drinking an open can of alcohol. He was stopped by officers, arrested and slated at the county jail," the unofficial report states under a section labeled "narrative." No other details are given.

The court documents make no mention of police response. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Nov. 13.