Ohio Man's Jaywalking Arrest Video Goes Viral

“We take all citizen concerns and complaints seriously,” Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot K. Isaac said in a statement.

The video of a man’s arrest for jaywalking in downtown Cincinnati that prompted two internal police investigations has gone viral.

Charles Harrell, 29, recorded a video showing his Feb. 6 arrest, during which he says he is being followed and harassed by an officer.

“Can’t even be a black man, enjoy your morning cause the police going to harass you,” Harrell said in the video posted on his Facebook. He says to the officer, “You were scaring me sir, I don’t know why you’re following me, you followed me all the way down the street."

Harrell was arrested and charged with a pedestrian violation, possession of less than 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of marijuana, as well as resisting arrest, according to records. The video, which was posted March 1, has garnered over 800,000 views.

The Cincinnati Police Department said in a statement the incident is under investigation by both the Internal Investigations Unit of the Cincinnati Police Department and the Citizen Complaint Authority, “which provides a neutral, independent review of the incident.”

“We take all citizen concerns and complaints seriously,” Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot K. Isaac said in a statement. “We are committed to transparency and will provide further information once we have allowed both the criminal trial and the administrative investigations to run their course.”

WARNING: The following video contains graphic language.

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Let me repost this I want the world to see how cincinnati police free black people in their own community this is...

Posted by Chris Harrell on Tuesday, 1 March 2016

On Friday, a contempt of court complaint was also filed against Harrell after a lawyer who has previously represented the city said the man behind the viral video took photos with his cell phone inside the courthouse, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. A photo of three people in police uniforms was posted to Harrell's Facebook page Tuesday.

Harrell has been previously convicted of disorderly conduct, theft, receiving stolen property and aggravated menacing, the Enquirer reported citing records.

The Enquirer also reported the officer who arrested Harrell, Baron Osterman, was part of a fatal police-involved shooting of a black male in 2003. The Citizen Complaint Authority ruled in 2004 Osterman and another officer used excessive force in subduing the man, Nathaniel Jones, who had high blood pressure and consumed narcotics.

In 2008, Hamilton County Common Pleas judge awarded Osterman and the other officer involved in the incident financial compensation for injuries they sustained during the arrest as well as for punitive and compensatory damages, according to the Enquirer.

Harrell’s attorney has not responded to NBC Chicago’s request for comment. A representative for the Cincinnati Police Department said Officer Osterman would not be able to comment on the incident because the investigation into the case is still active.

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