Ohio Deputies Accused Of Corruption After Drug Case Appears To Follow Profiling Claim

Ohio sheriff’s deputies took a year to file felony drug possession charges against Henry Ray following a minor traffic stop, alleging drugs were found in his vehicle. This development arose only after Ray initiated a lawsuit against the Cuyahoga County deputies, claiming racial profiling—leading many to believe the charges were a retaliatory tactic.His attorney, Scott Ramsey, remarked that charges shouldn’t disappear if drugs were genuinely found. The deputies, James DeCredico and Isen Vajusi, initially stopped Ray for a minor infraction but escalated the situation by falsely accusing him of driving a stolen car. After claiming a police dog alerted them to drugs, they searched Ray's car without his consent, supposedly discovering various substances.Notably, investigative reports highlighted that the Downtown Safety Patrol predominantly targeted Black drivers. Despite Sheriff Harold Pretel's skepticism about the deputies' actions, the statistics indicate troubling patterns of racial profiling within traffic stops. Ray’s case continues as his claims challenge the integrity of the deputies involved.