Naftali Wolf
A user of LEO Ratings provided an update on this page. Please email us with any updates or your own lead.
Service Record
Cleveland Heights Ohio Police Department
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Dates of Service | Hired on August 20, 2012.[1] |
| Last Known Status | Active |
Incident Reports
2013 Stop of Rayshawn Willis
On June 18, 2013, Wolf stopped Willis' vehicle for having a loud stereo. During the incident, Willis claims that Wolf was unprofessional and told him, "you just talked yourself into a bunch of tickets". [2]
Response Timeline
On July 2, 2013, Willis filed a complaint with the agency.[2]
During the internal investigation, Wolf "took full responsibility for his actions" and understood that it was "an unacceptable way to conduct himself".[2]
Wolf was given a verbal reprimand and was assigned to take additional training around citizen interactions.[2]
2018 Incident with Deantaie Barnes
On July 9, 2018, several officers were involved in an incident with Barnes. Wolf made comments including, "how lucky he didn't get slammed", that "he doesn't care" about warrants, and that "I don't have the patience". The incident involved the use of force by officers.[3]
The incident was captured on officers' body-worn cameras.[3]
Response Timeline
An internal investigation found the use of force to be "necessary and appropriate" but called out Wolf's comments as "unprofessional and could negatively impact Officer Wolf's character if summoned for court to testify". Wolf was found to have neglected his duty by not investigating people at the scene. [3]
On July 26, 2018, multiple command officers met with Wolf, who acknowledged his "poor choice of words" that were his attempt "to de-escalate the situation".[3]
2020 Assault Investigation
On May 11, 2020, Wolf and other officers responded to an assault call. The victim described the assault and named her attacker. Wolf asked the victim, "what do you want police to do?". Wolf told the victim that he would meet her at the hospital.[4]
The incident was captured on Wolf's body-worn camera.[4]
No report was filed about the incident.[4]
Later that day, the victim reported the assault at the station.[4]
Response Timeline
In an internal review of the body-worn camera video, it was noted that Wolf did not ask the victim to describe the details of the assault, failed to obtain a name or statement from a witness, and it was undocumented if Wolf had gone to the hospital.[4]
On May 19, 2020, the agency completed their internal investigation, finding that Wolf "failed to thoroughly investigate a crime" and did not complete a written police report. Wolf was counselled and acknowledged "his error in judgement".[4]
2021 Arrest of Ralph Thompson
On May 23, 2021, Wolf and other officers responded to a report of a theft. Officers located Thompson and arrested him.[5]
During the arrest, a witness observed "several officers on top of a black man" and stopped to "make sure [Thompson] was alright". The officers told the woman to "mind her own goddamn business", that she was "ridiculous", that she "was the reason crime goes up", and "go back to her hoity toity life". Wolf told the witness that she was trespassing and threatened to charge her. and that she would receive a citation for obstruction of justice in the mail.[5]
The incident was captured on officers' body-worn cameras.[5]
Response Timeline
On June 4, 2021, the agency completed their internal investigation, finding that Wolf and other officers escalated the incident when they "yelled at her and made unnecessary comments".[5]
The officers agreed that "they should have handled the situation differently".[5]
2022 Arrest of Demetrius Kern
Response Timeline
The department investigated and ordered Wolf to attend additional de-escalation training.[6]
On July 7, 2023, Kern filed a lawsuit against the department and the officers, alleging a racial bias and violation of Kern's constitutional rights.[7]
LEO Ratings
References
- ↑ Officer Records, Naftali Wolf, Cleveland Heights Police Department, ID: 151229, Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Willis Investigation Follow-up Form, Cleveland Heights Police Department, 2013-07-15
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Barnes Investigation, Cleveland Heights Police Department, 2018-07-26
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Johnson-Butler Investigation, Cleveland Heights Police Department, 2020-05-19
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Thompson Investigation, Cleveland Heights Police Department, 2021-06-04
- ↑ Anna Meyer, Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren calls for expedition of police reform after traffic stop goes viral, WKYC, 2023-01-28
- ↑ Melissa Reid, Man sues Cleveland Heights police over controversial arrest that went viral, FOX 8, 2023-07-07
Recent articles: Joshua Nahulu, Shevoy Brown, Thomas Mascia, Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas (2019), Gerald Goines
To check for incidents in your area, please use the search page or try a random incident.
