Today, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters announced the indictment of Derrick Owens (DOB 1/21/93) and Shaunice Dickerson (DOB 9/21/93) for the November 29th assault on two Cincinnati Police Officers. Owens is now indicted on 1 count of Felonious Assault (Felony 1), 2 counts of Robbery (Felony 2) and 2 counts of Assault on a Peace Officer (Felony 4). Dickerson is now indicted of 1 count of Felonious Assault (Felony 1) and 2 counts of Assault on a Peace Officer (Felony 4). If convicted of all charges, they face in excess of 16 years in prison.

On November 29th at approximately 7:30 a.m., Cincinnati Police Officers Karoline Harris and Cary Jodice responded to a 911 call for an assault by a male known to carry a gun. The officers responded to 2459 Nottingham Road in the Villages of Roll Hills. Upon arrival at the residence, Officer Harris went to the front door and Officer Jodice went to the back door.

Officer Harris had contact with the female 911 caller at the front door. She refused to answer direct questions from Officer Harris about the situation and the location of the people involved in the dispute.

At the rear of the residence, Officer Jodice had contact with Shaunice Dickerson. After Dickerson exited the residence, she struck Officer Jodice multiple times. As Officer Jodice was attempting to arrest her for Assault on a Peace Officer, Derrick Owens came outside and got between the officer and Dickerson. Officer Harris responded to the rear of the residence to aid her partner. Owens resisted arrest and a struggle ensued. During the struggle, Owens took Officer Jodice’s taser and threw it on the ground. Owens was also able to wrest control of Officer Harris’s taser but eventually dropped it as well. While the officers were attempting to subdue Owens, Dickerson struck Officer Jodice again in the face several times and Owens elbowed Officer Harris in the face.  Both Officers had previously attempted to tase and dry stun Owens, but it had no effect on him.

Both officers were injured as a result of this assault. Officer Jodice suffered a concussion. Officer Harris suffered a broken nose and a concussion. She will require future surgery to treat her broken nose.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters commented, “These officers were doing their job when they responded to a request for assistance. They were there to help someone in need and ended up needing medical treatment themselves after being viciously attacked.

We cannot for one moment forget what a dangerous job the police do. We owe them a debt of gratitude every day for cases like this and all of the cases that we do not hear about.

I take assault on a police officer seriously and instruct my assistants to do the same. Our community will not thrive without respect for the police.”