Ronald D. Wagner II, 45, appeared Friday morning in Canton Municipal Court for misdemeanor charges related to a May 13 traffic stop.

CANTON A Perry Township man dragged from his car by law enforcement officers and bitten by a police dog has pleaded no contest to resisting arrest and other misdemeanor charges.

Ronald D. Wagner II, 45, appeared Friday morning in Canton Municipal Court with his left arm still bandaged. Judge Mary Falvey ordered him to pay court costs and suspended 90 days of jail, on the condition that Wagner causes no problems for two years.

City prosecutors dismissed a charge of obstructing official business in exchange for his pleas to charges of resisting arrest, driving without a valid license, not wearing a seat belt and two charges related to the display of license plates.

A no contest plea accepts a legal conviction without admitting guilt.

"He did wish me to thank the prosecution for a reasonable resolution to respect of these matters, and he would like to resolve them and move on with his life," Wagner's attorney, Derek Lowry, told the court.

The charges stemmed from a May 13 traffic stop recorded by Wagner and body cameras worn by Canton police officers. A Highway Patrol trooper stopped Wagner on a side street near Monument Park for driving with a homemade license plate, and Canton officers later responded with a K9.

On camera, Wagner refuses to provide identification and vehicle registration during the 20-minute encounter. He falsely asserts that driving is a commercial term and such information is not needed from private individuals.

"I'm not driving. I'm traveling," Wagner told the trooper.

Law enforcement officers said the adhesive letters and numbers on the back of Wagner's vehicle matched a real license plate registered to someone with a concealed carry permit. Wagner told them that he did not have a weapon but wouldn't answer other questions.

Eventually, the trooper and officers broke Wagner's car windows and sent in the police dog.

Obstructing official business and resisting arrest are each punishable by up to 90 days in jail, said Canton's Deputy Chief Counsel Katie Erchick. She did not know the total fees assessed to Wagner but said court costs usually begin at $100 to $200 and increase as hearings and motions continue.

"We thought it was a fair resolution," Erchick said after Friday's hearing.

Lowry said, after the proceeding, that having the videos was beneficial. Resisting arrest was the only charge he and his client would have contested at trial because Wagner wasn't explicitly told he was under arrest before the dog attack and then has limited arm motion when officers tell him not to resist.

However, Lowry said, the plea agreement produced a better outcome.

"My client's court cost would've been more than if we resolved the case today," he said.

Reach Kelly at 330-580-8323

or kelly.byer@cantonrep.com

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