State investigators are scrutinizing a Hamilton police sergeant’s use of force after a late-night arrest at Marcum Park on June 22, 2025, in which a suspect’s attorney says body-worn camera video shows the officer striking his client dozens of times. The man, 55-year-old Robert Thomas Jr., was booked into the Butler County jail and then taken to a hospital for evaluation following the encounter, according to court records.
Thomas’s attorney told reporters that he and a state special agent counted 41 baton strikes on the body-camera footage, calling the video “hard to watch,” as reported by FOX19. The attorney, who shared portions of the recording with the station, says Thomas still bears visible scars from the June arrest.
According to FOX19, the Hamilton Police Department has not publicly identified the sergeant because he has not been charged. The officer’s lawyer, Stew Mathews, told the station, “There are always two sides to every story.” The department released the arrest report and confirmed through the station that the sergeant’s work status remains active.
What the Arrest Report Says
The arrest report released by the department states that officers found Thomas inside Marcum Park after hours. It describes a brief struggle during which a Taser was deployed, followed by a longer altercation where the sergeant is reported to have used an extended baton while attempting to handcuff Thomas…