Norwood officer accused of assaulting handcuffed woman resigns, pleads no contest

NORWOOD, Ohio - A veteran Norwood police officer pleaded no contest in court and resigned his position Wednesday after being accused of assaulting handcuffed woman.

Officer Robert Ward, a 16-year veteran of law enforcement, was charged with assaulting 30-year-old Denise Diallo of Lexington, Kentucky.

Ward was initially sentenced to 180 days in jail, but the sentence was suspended.

According to the police report, Officer Ward slammed Diallo into a jailhouse wall after she had been handcuffed and placed under arrest. Diallo was taken to a local hospital and suffered a broken arm as a result of the incident that took place Aug. 11.

The report indicates that Diallo came into the police department seeking property from a previous case. After not receiving her property, Diallo is reported to have entered into an aggressive argument with Ward and was told she was under arrest.

After attempting to run away and being tackled to the ground, Diallo was brought to the jail and was thrown against the a wall by Officer Ward.

The incident was caught on surveillance camera.  

Ward had been on paid administrative leave while a special prosecutor from Columbus investigated the altercation.

Charges of resisting arrest and criminal trespass against Diallo have been dropped.