Cantonal police chief calls for dismissal of an officer for unjustified use of police dogs

Canton City Police Chief John Gabbard has recommended firing Officer Nicholas Casto for “unjustifiably” using a police dog during an arrest.
A hearing on Casto’s disciplinary termination has been scheduled for June 21 at Canton City Hall.

CANTON – The police chief says a city officer’s use of his dog to arrest a man last week was “unjustified” and is recommending the officer be fired.

Police Chief John Gabbard told Officer Nicholas Casto on Thursday that he was recommending that the city’s safety director fire Casto for using his sniffer dog to arrest a man in the 1100 block of 16th Street on May 30.^th Street NW, according to records obtained by the Canton Repository through a public records request.

Videos released by police and posted on social media show that three police officers had already found the man lying face down in the grass with his hands behind his back before Casto approached with his sniffer dog, Scooby, and allowed the dog to aggressively bite the man’s arm, which was still folded behind his back.

“In evaluating this incident, I have concluded that your conduct was clearly inconsistent with the training you received and our policies, rules and regulations,” Gabbard wrote. “I believe you included demonstrably false information in your written arrest report to justify the level of force that was clearly unjustified.”

Safety Director Andrea Perry has scheduled a hearing on Casto’s disciplinary termination for June 21 at City Hall. The hearing is required under the city’s contract with the Canton Police Patrolmen’s Association when an officer appeals a disciplinary action and must be scheduled at least 10 business days after the officer is notified. Casto has been on paid administrative leave since May 31.

The Repository has asked the President of the Patrol Officers Association for a statement.

Gabbard’s recommendation follows a review by the department’s Bureau of Professional Development and Office of Professional Standards, which found that Casto had violated several department policies, including use of force, dog arrest policies, deployment preparation, use of force and department reports.

Videos show a police dog from Canton biting passersby

Casto, who has been with the Canton City Police Department since 2014, responded with Scooby to 16^th Street NW to control a crowd of residents gathered on the streets and sidewalks on May 30 when members of Canton’s Coordinated Response Team, a special investigative unit, stopped a four-door sedan that they said had forgotten to use its turn signal when it stopped to park in front of a home.

Video released by Canton police shows a passerby signaling to Casto and Scooby as Casto speaks to the passersby about their dogs. Scooby’s rapid barking drowns out whatever the passerby might have said.

Embedded content: https://www.cantonrep.com/videos/news/2024/05/31/canton-police-bodycam-footage-k9-dog-unit-attacks-man-arrest/73929310007/

Casto tells the man that he is under arrest for teasing the dog, and three more police officers approach the man to handcuff him.

While handcuffing the passerby, the three officers and the man fall to the ground, with two officers landing in a bush.

As the video shows, Casto then brings the leashed dog to the man, who is now lying face down with his hands folded behind his back.

The three officers step back as Scooby jumps toward the man and grabs his arm.

An officer repeatedly yells, “Do not resist!” while the dog shakes his head aggressively.

Screams from bystanders could be heard in the background.

In their reports, officers stated that the man continued to pull his hands away from them while they were behind his back.

The 43-year-old man is accused of obstruction of office, resisting arrest, attacking or harassing a police dog, disturbing the peace and sexual harassment. The latest charge stems from a 2022 case.

A preliminary hearing on charges related to the May 30 arrest will be held in Canton Municipal Court on Monday. A preliminary hearing on the 2022 case is scheduled for June 13 in Municipal Court.

He is represented by attorney Kenneth Abbarno of the DiCello Levitt Law Firm, which also represents the families of James Williams, who was shot and killed by a city officer in 2022 when Williams fired a gun into the air to celebrate the New Year; Zachary Fornash, who was shot and killed by a city officer in December 2023; and Frank Tyson of Canton Township, who died April 18 while lying facedown in handcuffs in Canton police custody.

The law firm DiCello Levitt did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Urban League calls for ‘reimagined’ Canton Police Department

The videos sparked outrage among residents, social media users and community leaders.

Thomas West, president of the Greater Stark County Urban League, called for a “reimagining” of the Canton City Police Department following the May 30 incidents, which he described as a “disturbing attack,” “egregious abuse of power” and “malicious attack.”

“Enough is enough,” West wrote in a letter he delivered to the security director, the district attorney and the city council president on Monday. “We demand a reimagined police department that puts integrity and respect for our fellow citizens and our city first.”

Among other things, West proposes not only placing the officials under investigation on leave, but also paying them their salaries in trust until the investigation is completed and using their vacation days for leisure time.

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