COLUMBUS, Ohio — The family and attorney of Michael Cleveland are demanding answers as he is still recovering in a hospital after he was shot by Columbus Police Officer Joshua Ohlinger.
His daughter, LaKeya Cleveland, said they want Ohlinger to resign and face charges for shooting her father in the back as he was running away.
“Why is it that a man that's running away, has to get shot in the back,” she said.
She stood alongside community leaders, like Pastor Fredrick LaMarr of Family Missionary Baptist Church.
Body camera video released by police shows two officers, including Ohlinger in a cruiser following a black dodge truck.
They recognized it was Cleveland, and followed him until he parked behind a building, got out and ran away.
Ohlinger shot at him six times, striking him at least three times, according to his attorney. Moments before he was shot, you could see in the video Cleveland dropping a gun.
“It wasn't what we expected to see, like my dad falling straight forward we didn't know if he was dead or alive,” said LaKeya.
According to Franklin County Municipal Court records, Cleveland was charged with having weapons while under disability. His daughter said regardless, he shouldn't be lying in a hospital bed.
"My dad is a good person. He tries to help the community and what I have to say about this is you have to place the right CPD, in the right community,” she said.
His family said they haven't been able to see him because of a policy by Columbus police that prevents visitation with people who were shot by an officer, and only Walton has been able to see him. Walton said because of the shooting, Cleveland’s injuries could be life-changing.
"One of those shots hit him in his spinal cord…and he's unlikely to ever walk again,” said Walton.
His family is demanding changes that they want to see happen within the next seven days.
They said that includes ending the policy that doesn’t allow families to see people that have been shot by police and for the city and police to not go forward with the gang enforcement unit.
The family is also demanding that the city requests a thorough investigation into the use of force of the division conducted by the Department of Justice.
10TV reached out to Columbus police and Mayor Andrew Ginther’s office. A representative with Columbus police responded, saying Chief Elaine Bryant has been in private communication with Cleveland’s family.
Last week, Ginther said he sent a letter to the DOJ asking them to conduct another review into the division’s use of force after the DOJ released its final review from 2021.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation said there are no new updates to share at this time and the investigation remains ongoing.
Cleveland’s daughter said they want swift justice.
"We want Joshua {Ohlinger} to resign, and we also want charges for what he did to my father," she said.