The anti-ICE protester arrested by Columbus police outside the immigration enforcement’s hotel during its “Operation Buckeye” surge into the community had his charges dismissed by Franklin County prosecutors.
Kevin Logan (pictured above) was told by prosecutors he didn’t need to show in court on Monday, but he did anyway to hear for himself that the charges were dropped.
“Nobody would even make eye contact with me, so nobody actually said anything despite my attempts to engage them in eye contact,” said Logan who by all accounts was the most vocal of protestors at ICE’s hotel during those fateful nights.
He was charged with squealing his tires, a misdemeanor, and something he claims was a fabrication on the part of Columbus police. He was given a second charge, obstructing official business, which Columbus police and prosecutors never fully explained. The Ohio Revised Code states: “No person…shall do any act that hampers or impedes a public official in the performance of the public official’s lawful duties.”
The question is, was the charge due to obstructing ICE from doing their (un)lawful duties? A violation of the First Amendment if proven to be true. Initially, prosecutors offered to drop the charge of squealing tires if Logan plead guilty to obstruction of official business, but Logan steadfastly refused.
Nonetheless, prosecutors said all his charges were “dismissed in the interest of justice.” A dismissal in the interest of justice is an order by a judge to terminate the case or charge because proceedings would be unfair, unjust, or not of public interest.
“They kicked my ass, sent me to jail for the night, and tried to kill me with bootleg medications and wouldn’t give me my own,” said the northwest side activist and father of four who was given up to foster care at birth. Logan spent years living at the Buckeye Ranch but weathered that storm to become a small business owner and president of the Olde Sawmill Civic Association.
“I’m just a regular person who’s for common sense and human rights. Whatever I got in me, that’s where it came from,” said Logan about foster care. “When ICE came to town, I was going to be ready. I don’t want my community to be terrorized. I grew up with people who didn’t look like me. I wanted to protect and speak out for those people.”
Back in late December on the third night of protest outside ICE’s hotel on the far north side, Logan pulled into the parking lot and was startled to see four Columbus police cruisers with lights flashing behind his vehicle. A large Columbus police presence was at the hotel each night (pictured above), and Logan believes he was targeted by certain elements within Columbus police who support ICE’s fascist-like tactics.
“I literally just stepped out of the car and said, ‘What’s the problem boys?’” said Logan.
Columbus police officers immediately moved to put Logan in cuffs. Logan is an imposing figure who stands well over six-foot. And when police tried to put his arms and hands behind his back, they popped one of his shoulders out of its socket.
“I was not defiant in any way. I was yelling that my shoulder is locked in place and won’t go back further than it was. I never gave a false name or attempted to resist them. I drove in and was immediately jumped. There were four vehicles with lights going when I stepped out as I parked,” he said.
After they manhandled him into the back of a police van, he was taken to the parking lot of a nearby Home Depot, set up as a staging area for Columbus police. Where one officer referred to him as the “ringleader” of the anti-ICE protestors.
Mayor Ginther has ordered Columbus police officers not to assist ICE with immigration enforcement. But Logan’s arrest raised new questions about how much influence and control Mayor Ginther, City Council, and even Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant has over the Columbus Division of Police or certain units within the Division.
The Free Press has been reporting on rogue elements within the Division for decades, and they have plenty of support outside the Division and City Hall. Ohio MAGA Congressman Bernie Moreno, during Operation Buckeye, stated on social media that Ginther and Bryant “should be aware that impeding federal law enforcement efforts is also a crime.”
“Absolutely I was targeted,” said Logan. “I was easily the loudest and most animated protestor out there. And I was speaking directly to them. I am Antifa! Who’s not anti-fascism. Who is for fascism?”
“And what’s cool is, it’s not organized [Antifa],” he continued. “Those kids were dancing and those old folks were out there with bells. I don’t understand why everybody is not pissed off and speaking out [against ICE]. What the (expletive) is everybody else’s problem? There were nice people in Nazi Germany who didn’t want to create waves. So (expletive) you people. I can’t be silent.”