A prosecutor in suburban Cincinnati has given police the go-ahead to arrest citizens who do not comply with Ohio’s statewide stay-at-home order amid the coronavirus outbreak.
“You are attempting, in my mind as a prosecutor, to commit serious physical harm to people, and that is felonious assault,” Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters said during a radio interview over the weekend. “So fine, sit your butt in a jail. You can sit there and kill yourself. I don’t care, but you’re not going to kill my kids, and you’re not going to kill my neighbors’ kids. I’m done with this nonsense, so we’ll see what happens.”
Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced the order would extend through May 1.
“We understand that this is tough – it is very difficult. But, I would not be making these decisions if it wasn’t a matter of life and death,” said DeWine. “We have to keep this monster down. It’s not dead — it’s very much alive.”
The order bars public gatherings of more than 10 people and travel outside the home for nonessential reasons. Violation of the order, state officials have said, could result in steep fines and jail time.
Deters was asked about the case of Rashaan Davis, who police arrested after he posted a video depicting a large gathering on Friday night.
“I told the chief to charge him with felonious assault,” Deters said. “I don’t care. This is going to stop. I’m telling you, at least now, the guy is going to stop.”
The prosecutor said he takes no pleasure in sending people to jail for violating public health guidelines, but he is prepared to.
“Look, I think everyone would agree: This is not pleasant for anyone,” Deters said. “I mean, I’m going crazy. I’m going nuts at home, but that’s what I think I have to do. I can make a phone call or talk to a judge or do what we’ve got to do, but I’m going to follow what Governor DeWine wants us to do, and these people that flaunt it and make fun of it, I have absolutely no patience for.”
There are 2,902 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus in Ohio and 81 deaths. A total of 802 people have been hospitalized, including 260 admissions to intensive care units, the state said.
