Christopher Heltzel

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- A video released Friday shows a Cleveland law department employee in what Cleveland Heights Police have said is a drunken debate with patrol officers over whether he should be allowed to listen to the The Police -- the band -- in public.

Officers arrested Christopher Heltzel late Thursday while investigating a report of a man acting in a "bizarre manner" on Mayfield Road near Kenilworth Road, according to a police report.

Heltzel, 33, of Cleveland Heights, has not been charged in the incident, Cleveland Heights Municipal Court records show.

Cleveland Heights police on Friday released body camera video showing their encounter with Heltzel.

The video has been included at the top of this post.

Heltzel identified himself as an assistant Cleveland prosecutor after Cleveland Heights officers arrived and found him "flailing his arms" outside his car, which was blaring music, according to the police report.

Heltzel told the officers he had been drinking four hours earlier. He then ordered pizza and decided to listen to The Police album "Synchronicity" in his car, the video shows.

Officers noted in a report that Heltzel appeared drunk, and the officers described him as being "antagonistic and combative." He quoted case law and told the officers about his extensive knowledge of criminal law, according to the report.

The video shows Heltzel arguing that he should be allowed to play the music.

"This parking lot is a private area. I live in this private area. I pay rent in this private area," Heltzel says in the video.

Heltzel then questions whether the officers had probable cause to arrest him.

"You guys are desperately searching for [probable cause] right now and it's hysterical," he tells the officers.

When one of the officers responds that he has probable cause to make an arrest, Heltzel tells him to "go for it."

Moments later, when the officers puts Heltzel in handcuffs, Heltzel appears to reconsider.

"I retract that," Heltzel tells the officers as he is being handcuffed.

The officers took him to the Cleveland Heights City Jail for booking.

Cleveland City spokesman Dan Williams did not return a call seeking comment. It is unknown if Heltzel has an attorney.

cleveland.com reporter Adam Ferrise contributed to this story.

If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Friday's crime and courts comments section.