Officers had gone to Lewis’ apartment in the city’s Hilltop neighborhood to attempt to arrest him on outstanding warrants for charges of domestic violence, assault and a felony charge of improper handling of a firearm. Anderson fired a single shot about one second after opening Lewis’ bedroom door, fatally striking him.
Anderson was placed on administrativeleave following the shooting.
Attorneys for the family of Donovan Lewis who had called for Anderson to be fired said his relatives were “outraged” that the city allowed Anderson to retire.
“This family deserves so much better,” a statement from lawyers Rex Elliott, Michael Wright and Ben Cooper said. “Mr. Lewis’ family and our community will not forget about him and the way in which city leaders have so poorly handled this totally unnecessary killing.”
Columbus Police policy states that the police chief determines whether good standing status will be given to an officer who retires or resigns while facing criminal charges or an internal investigation that could lead to termination or a suspension of more than 120 hours, Brian Steel, a police union official, said on Twitter.
What happened the night Donovan Lewis was killed
Police body camera video shows Lewis did not answer repeated knocks on his door for about 10 minutes. One of two other young men inside the apartment eventually let officers in.
‘No justification’:Family calls for accountability after unarmed man fatally shot by Columbus police
Anderson unleashed the K-9 he was handling and the dog turned a corner in the apartment, where it appeared to encounter a person. The bedroom door to the apartment can be heard closing.
Anderson called the K-9 back and leashed the dog, then entered the apartment with at least two other officers while warning they would release the dog. Anderson approached the closed bedroom door and Anderson leashed the K-9.
Anderson opened the door as another officer yelled “hands” and pointed his weapon with a flashlight at Lewis, who began to sit up in bed. Within a second of the door opening and the command, Anderson leaned into the open door and shot once, striking Lewis in the abdomen, bodycam video shows.
Lewis was holding in his left hand what Police Chief Elaine Bryant said later turned out to be a vape pen.
Who is Ricky Anderson?
Anderson has been a Columbus police officer since 1991, The Columbus Dispatch, a member of the USA TODAY Network, previously reported.
The Dispatch reported in 2003 that Anderson was indicted on charges of theft in office for taking pay for guarding a bank when he wasn’t actually there. He admitted to the theft in 2004 and completed a Common Pleas Court diversion program, which resulted in his record being cleared. He was later fired over the theft.
But a federal arbitrator reinstated Anderson in November 2004, saying the city should have given him a 30-day suspension rather than terminating him.
At the time, Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge No. 9 said the city had “overdisciplined a mistake made by what otherwise would be considered an outstanding officer,” The Dispatch reported.
Anderson has had 10 complaints filed against him during his 30-year career, according to his police Internal Affairs Bureau history.
In 2020, a complaint related to an incident in 2019 was sustained, according to the history. However, no additional details were immediately available about that incident.
Behrens can be reached at cbehrens@dispatch.com or on Twitter @Colebehr_report.
USA TODAY NETWORK
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