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AND THE RIPPLE EFFECT ACROSS THE REST OF THE RANK AND FILE. >> THIS IS WLWT NEWS 5 LEADING THE WAY. MIKE: A CINCINNATI POLI OFFICER VIOLENTLY ATTACKED WHILE TRYING TO DO HIS JOB TRYING TO ARREST MAN YESTERDAY. I’M MIKE DARDIS. SHEREE: AND I’M SHEREE PAOLELLO. THE OFFICER IS STILL RECOVERING FROM LAST NIGHT’S ATTACK AT THE GAMBLE-NIPPERT YMCA. WLWT NEWS 5’S HELENA BATTIPAGLIA IS LIVE FOR US ON WHAT HAPPENED. HELENA: IT ACTUALLY STARTED OFF AS PRETTY TYPICAL NIGHT FOR THIS DISTRICT OFFICE HE STOPPED OVER AT T Y AFTER REPORTS OF A MAN THERE, BUT THINGS TOOK A TURN FOR THE WORSE. >> THIS WAS A DIFFICUL ENCOUNTER. HELENA: A TERRIFYING ENCOUNTER FOR AN OFFICER, WHO POLICE SAY WAS BRUTALLY BEATEN WHILE ATTEMPTING AN ARREST LAST NIGHT. INVESTIGATORS SAY DURRELL NICHOLS IS THE MAN RESPONSIBLE. HE’S BEHIND BARS TONIGHT FOR RESISTING ARREST, ASSAULTING AN OFFICER, DISORDERLY CONDUCT AN CRIMINAL TRESPASSING. >> SEVEN OR EIGHT OFFICERS SHOWED UP, AND IT TOOK SEVEN OR EIGHT OFFICERS TO GET THIS GUY SUBDUED. HELENA: POLICE SAY IT HAPPENED AT THE GAMBLE-NIPPERT YMCA. A MALE AND A FEMALE OFFICER ARRIVED AFTER HEARING NICHOLS WAS SHOVING CLUB MEMBERS DURING A GAME OF BASKETBALL. THEY SAY AFTER ASKING NICHOLS TO LEAVE MANY TIMES, THEY TRIED PLACING HIM IN CUSTODY. THAT’S WHEN THEY SAY THE ASSAULT TOOK PLACE. >> THE MALE OFFICER WAS PUNCHED ABOUT FOUR TIMES IN THE FACE. HE WENT DOWN TO THE GROUND, THE MALE OFFICER DID. AS HE WENT DOWN TO THE GROUND HE STRUCK HIS HEAD ON A TABLE. HELENA: POLICE SAY THAT OFFICER REQUIRED SEVERAL STICHES, AND THAT HIS FACE IS STILL VERY SWOLLEN. THOSE WHO SPEND TIME AT THE Y TELL US THEY’RE DISTURBED AFT HEARING THE NEWS. >> IT IS SHOCKING. IS SHOCKING IF IT HAPPENS ANYWHERE. HELENA: IN A STATEMENT, THE YMCA TOLD ITS MEMBERS "THE Y IS COOPERATING WITH POLICE. THE MEMBER INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT HAS BEEN SUSPENDED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AS WE FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE SITUATION. YOUR SAFETY IS OUR TOP PRIORITY." POLICE CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE THE SITUATION. THE OFFICER IS RECOVERING FROM HIS INJURIES. >> WE HAVE TO WIN EVER ENCOUNTER. IT’S IMPORTANT FOR US TO GO HOME TO OUR FAMILIES EVERY NIGH HELENA: POLICE BELIEVE NICHOLS SUFFERS FROM SOME KIND OF MENTAL ILLNESS. SOME OF THE YMCA MEMBERS WE SPOKE WITH TELL US DESPITE THIS INCIDENT, THEY DON’ FEAR RETURNING TO THE CLUB IN THE FUTURE, BECAUSE THEY S TYPICALLY THEY FEEL VERY SAFE THERE.

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