MANSFIELD, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—The Mansfield Police Department has concluded its internal investigation into a citizen complaint filed by Calvin Caldwell following a traffic stop on May 20, 2026, finding that the officer’s actions were consistent with departmental use-of-force policies.
The incident occurred at approximately 1:15 a.m., when Officer Adamescu initiated a stop on a white pickup truck for traffic and equipment violations near the New Millennium Car Wash. According to the department’s investigative report, the officer had observed the vehicle behaving suspiciously at the business prior to the stop.
The report states that the interaction escalated after the officer approached the passenger side of the vehicle. Officer Adamescu reported that both the driver, Dreama Henderson, and the passenger, Calvin Caldwell, displayed signs of nervousness and focused repeatedly on the vehicle’s glove compartment.
When the officer attempted to identify Caldwell, the situation turned confrontational. The department alleges that Caldwell became belligerent, eventually shoving his driver’s license toward the officer’s face.
According to the report, when the officer retrieved the license, Caldwell balled his fists and lunged at the officer. The report claims Caldwell struck the officer in the face, prompting a physical struggle in which the officer used strikes to gain compliance before taking Caldwell to the ground to be handcuffed.
The department’s internal investigation, which reviewed body-worn camera footage, witness statements, and officer testimony, concluded that Caldwell’s physical resistance preceded the officer’s use of force.
In releasing the findings, department leadership addressed the role of body-worn camera footage in such investigations. While acknowledging that the video is an “invaluable investigative tool,” officials cautioned that it should not be viewed as a “perfect recreation of an event.” The department noted that footage captures only a narrow perspective and must be weighed alongside other physical evidence and testimony.
The department stated that the incident was reviewed by multiple levels of leadership and reaffirmed its commitment to its CALEA-accredited standards, which include regular training in de-escalation tactics and ongoing reviews of all use-of-force incidents to ensure community trust.