Two Akron police officers are under a use-of-force investigation after cellphone footage shared on Facebook showed them repeatedly punching in the head a 31-year-old Akron man they said ran from them and resisted arrest.
The incident occurred as officers responded to a call for a man assaulting a woman at about 9:20 p.m. May 7 at the Lane Park Manor Apartments in East Akron, the incident report read. When they arrived, Dontay Auston had blood on his hands and chest and smelled of alcohol. Police said Auston ran when they told him to turn around.
The three-minute video, posted late May 7, shows a shirtless Auston on his belly as two officers punch him at least 12 times while attempting to handcuff him.
Screenshot of cell phone footage showing two Akron police officers punching 31-year-old Dontay Auston in the head a dozen times as they attempted to handcuff him.
As of 3 p.m. May 8, the video had been viewed roughly 295,000 times on Facebook.
“I want the community to know I recognize that there is concern surrounding this incident due to the use of force,” Akron Police Chief Brian Harding said in an APD Facebook post. “We are actively reviewing this incident as we do with all police use of force occurrences and will work to share more information as it becomes available. This will be investigated by a supervisor and reviewed by the Office of Professional Standards and Accountability. It will also be reviewed by the Independent Police Auditor.”
Auston is charged with resisting arrest, a fourth-degree felony, and obstructing official business, a fifth-degree felony, and had a misdemeanor disorderly conduct warrant active from Canton. Attorney Imokhai Okolo is representing him. Okolo wrote on Facebook that his law firm’s priority is Auston’s well-being.
“We know there are a lot of questions and serious concerns from the video that has been shared on social media,” he wrote. “Know that we are working to get answers.”
Akron Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #7 President Brian Lucey released a statement saying the video does not show the whole incident and lacks context.
“We know that Akron police officers were called to the scene due to a fight, and one suspect fled when they arrived. When officers chased him down, the suspect physically resisted and struggled with them. The hand strikes shown in the video are methods that all Ohio police officers are trained to use when a suspect resists or fights with them. The use of these less-lethal measures, such as hand strikes or a Taser, is how police are trained to respond to suspects who fight with police. The FOP is working to gather more details, and we ask the public to wait until all facts and video evidence are available before drawing conclusions,” Lucey wrote in a statement.
What does cellphone footage show?
The video begins with both officers bent over Auston, who is on his belly with at least one arm behind his back.
An officer is heard telling him to put his hands behind his back. At the same time, one officer is seen punching him in the head at least eight times, four times with each hand.
“Don’t ever grab my leg,” the officer says to Auston.
“I didn’t do no s***,” Auston replies.
Auston then squirms and moves his right arm as an officer tells him to put his hand behind his back. That’s when the second officer is seen and heard punching Auston four times in the head before putting his hand on Auston’s head.
In the seconds after those final punches, Auston tells police he will “stay right here. I swear.”
The two officers turn him around and sit him upright.
“I was scared as (expletive),” Auston tells police. “Bro, listen, I’ll stay right there.”
One officer asked him if he can walk, but Auston tells them that getting punched hurt. An officer replies, “Then don’t run.”
Auston then falls backward and is heard yelling as the two officers stand him. When asked if he had been drinking, he says “no.” Eventually, the officers stand him up and start to walk him away.
What does the incident report say?
In an Akron Police Facebook post, the department explains the 911 caller who reported the initial fight reportedly threatened to shoot the man if police didn’t arrive in time.
Once police arrived at the scene, an anonymous caller pointed them toward Auston, who police said had blood on his hands and chest and smelled of alcohol. He stood next to a smashed end table, which bystanders said he used to smash a car windshield.
As the two officers approached him, he turned and ran, according to the incident report. A short foot chase ensued but ended when one officer discharged two Taser cartridges, striking Auston. On the ground, Auston was still resisting by tensing his arms, pulling his arms away and grabbing Riley’s leg, police said in the incident report.
One woman told police that she was on the phone with the alleged victim, who told her that Auston had smashed her windshield. She told the woman she did not want to return to the scene and declined to sign for charges.
EMS treated Auston and released him on the scene.
Who are the two Akron police officers?
The two officers involved have a combined six years at the Akron Police Department. The Beacon Journal is not identifying the officers by name at this time because no charges have been filed against them.
The first officer is 33 years old and was hired in December 2019. He received a shift-level commendation in August 2022 from a resident who complimented his handling of a call, according to the officer’s employee summary report.
The second officer is a 32-year-old man hired from the Fostoria Police Department in October 2024, his employee summary report noted.
He received a life-saving award in February 2025 when he and another officer intervened in a situation that likely would have resulted in an unresponsive man’s death. The commendation noted his diligent investigation skills, caring response and professionalism.
Bryce Buyakie covers courts and public safety for the Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at bbuyakie@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @bryce_buyakie.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 2 Akron officers under use-of-force investigation after punching man