Opinion ID: 780379
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Ronald Combs

Text: 7 Plaintiff Combs is a death row inmate serving two death sentences for aggravated murder convictions and six years for firearms specifications. See State v. Combs, 62 Ohio St.3d 278, 581 N.E.2d 1071 (1991). At the time the disturbance began, Combs, a porter, was serving the evening meal to other inmates. When he became aware of the disturbance, he returned to his cell and broke a pencil in the lock to prevent other prisoners from entering. While Combs waited in his cell to be rescued, the window was broken with a sledgehammer and two cans of tear gas were dispensed into his cell. Combs, who had trouble breathing, went to the broken window for air. Corrections Officer Chris Krupa, who was at the window, sprayed Combs in the eyes and face with liquid mace and told Combs to get the fuck away from the window. Combs also heard men saying, Get away from the window. Back up. Back up. A few moments later, more tear gas was shot through the broken window, engulfing Combs's cell. His skin began to burn. 8 SRT members arrived at Combs's cell more than an hour later. The officers ordered him to turn around, face the wall, and get down on his knees. Combs looked at the window and asked, In all that glass? The officers responded, Get the fuck on your knees now. His cell door was then unlocked, and six to eight officers rushed into his cell and drove him head-first to the floor. According to Combs, the officers stood on his neck and shoulders and hit him in the face and on the back of his head. He blacked out after officers kicked him in the genitals, and he awoke when officers were dragging him out the sally port doors. Combs asserts that officers kicked him as he was escorted to the medical treatment area. Officers then handcuffed him to a bench inside a holding cell and two other officers sprayed him with mace. Other than stating that the officers wore black fatigues, masks, and helmets, Combs does not identify any of these officers.