Fired police officer said he 'didn't remember' what happened after man used racial slurs

Fired Chillicothe police officer Reggie Netter told internal investigators he didn't remember what happened after a local man used racial slurs in a March argument with him at the county jail.

In a recorded interview amidst files related to the Chillicothe Police Department's internal investigation, former patrol officer Reggie Netter told officers he didn't remember if he hit the man, but he also said John P. Master's use of racial language caused the confrontation.

The Gazette obtained those files and interviews as part of a public records request fulfilled by the city last week.

Netter was fired Tuesday after an investigation into allegations that he had hit an inmate during an argument between the two. Video from the incident showed Netter in an argument in the jail with the 41-year-old Master, who'd disagreed with his arrest on charges related to a traffic stop earlier that morning.

Chillicothe Human Resources Director Tamra Lowe said to her knowledge, the union intends to go to arbitration with the State Employment Relations Board, but the city hasn't received anything yet. The union representative was unavailable for comment.

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During the interview, Netter reflected on what happened in the incident, saying he'd returned to the jail to serve Master with his traffic citation, but he'd refused to sign it. After his refusal, Netter told him that could mean an additional charge.

"That's when he started using racial slurs. We got into it, and I can't tell you what all went on," Netter told officers conducting the interview. "I don't remember."

In an investigation report, Ross County Sheriff's Deputy Timothy Claytor told officers he'd witnessed the incident since he was working that evening. According to Claytor, after Master yelled a derogatory term at Netter, he turned around, grabbed Master and pushed him back.

"He said Officer Netter took his right fist and grazed him across Mr. Masters' chin," the report stated. "Deputy Claytor advised Mr. Master did not appear to be injured, and he did not complain of an injury. He advised it was a closed fist strike but more like a grazing than an actual punch."

On May 9, the report noted two officers met with Master at his home in London, where he explained to them what happened from his perspective. He recalled Netter asking him to sign a traffic citation, and when he refused, he said Netter had "'burled' up on him," telling him that was his right. He then said he'd yelled derogatory terms at the officer.

"He advised Officer Netter came back and got in his face, so he said what are you gonna do come on go ahead. He said Officer Netter drew back like to punch him, but he stopped about halfway and did not hit him like he could have," the report read. "(Master) said people have told him Officer Netter does not typically react that way and he had just come off some kind of administrative discipline."

When asked what he would like to happen from the incident and investigation, the report noted Master told them if he was on the street and it had happened, he would have been charged, to which the officer replied they both would've been charged with disorderly conduct, and Master with provoking.

"Mr. Master advised it almost appeared that Officer Netter caught himself mid punch and thought 'woo woo' I better stop and that is why the punch was not so hard. He advised it was like a short-armed hit," the report noted. "He also indicated the presence of the Corrections Officers may have affected the force of the punch and could have stopped him also."

According to the report, Master didn't report any injuries as a result of the incident.

According to Washburn, the traffic stop was conducted earlier that morning, but Master fled the scene. He was later arrested and taken to the jail on charges of obstructing official business, possession of drug paraphernalia and conduct toward an officer, in addition to a no signals charge.

Chillicothe Municipal Court records show Master pleaded guilty to second-degree misdemeanor obstructing official business on April 20. The remaining charges were dismissed.

During Netter's interview, an officer asked if anything else was going on at the time of the incident, noting Netter was usually a pretty calm and collected person.

"And I will tell you I don't know," Netter replied. "All I know is I was up there, and I told him that and then here come the racial slurs - boom, boom, boom, boom."

Asked what racial slurs were used, Netter said: "he called me a 'fat, black bastard' and then started calling me a (commonly used racial slur)."

Another officer asked if he knew Masters or the woman found in his vehicle during the traffic stop, to which Netter replied he'd never seen them before.

In a voluntary statement dated March 7, police Sgt. Micheal Short said when he spoke to Netter after the incident, Netter told him his body cam wasn't on during the incident, and he didn't punch Master.

In a letter dated Tuesday to Netter, Safety Services Director Jeff Carman informed him the city was terminating his employment due to the seriousness of the charges and progressive discipline over the past two years. He added the investigation concluded Netter had violated seven departmental rules, including incompetence, malfeasance, two conduct rules, dishonesty, language, and use of force, as well as two police department policies: use of force and body-worn cameras.

Netter's personnel file shows disciplinary reports dating back to 2000. Over the years, Netter has received a series of suspensions for failure to appear in court, including a three-day suspension in 2009 for failure to appear in Ross County Common Pleas Court for a jury trial. The trial was the same case in which he'd reported firearms stolen from his home, prompting a police investigation that resulted in a different three-day suspension for misconduct during the initial investigation.

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In June 2016, Netter served a 10-day suspension for because he "failed to secure evidence, failed to complete basic investigations, (was) incompetent and violated the aforementioned policies," according to a disciplinary report.

Netter was also on a "last chance agreement" that ended in October 2017 following an internal investigation that indicated Netter failed to do reports, properly secure evidence, and follow camera policies.