Maalik Roquemore

Date: 9/5/2022            Location: Cleveland, OH                   FACTORS (1,2,4,5,8,12,14,15,19)   

Name: Maalik Roquemore                            

Criminal History/Involved: Unknown. / Yes, Roquemore ambushed and assaulted the officer. 

Mental Illness: Yes, Roquemore “had schizophrenia and PTSD.” / Yes, Roquemore was experiencing a mental health crisis and should have been hospitalized.

Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown. / None stated.

Race/Sex/Age: Black/Male/32

Officer(s) involved: Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) Police Officer Desmond Ragland                                                                       

What prompted the initial contact with police? At around 12:30 a.m. on September 5, 2022, CMHA Officer Ragland responded to a 911 call complaining about loud music. Enroute to the complaint, Officer Ragland advises dispatch that a man who might be the complainant flagged him down.

Actions taken by subject towards police: As soon as Officer Ragland opened the driver’s side door of his marked police vehicle and was exiting it, Maalik Roquemore ran toward him from the rear of the vehicle. Roquemore ambushed the officer and can be seen in the body camera video throwing closed fist punches at him while he is still seated inside the vehicle.

Reactions by the police: Officer Ragland fought off Roquemore’s attack, recovered his Taser that was knocked to the ground, deployed it at Roquemore but to no effect. When Roquemore disengaged and ran off the officer exited his vehicle and moved in the opposite direction. Body camera video shows Roquemore circle back toward the police vehicle and then run at Officer Ragland who is retreated, walking backwards with his gun pointed at Roquemore as he yelled, “Get away from me!”. When Roquemore continued his homicidal/suicidal advance, Officer Ragland fired two shots, ultimately killing him. 

Outcome of investigation into the fatal police incident: Cleveland Division of Police is investigating.

What could the subject have done that day to still be alive today? Roquemore could still be alive today if he: were properly medicated; was supervised so that he could not leave the house while having a mental illness episode; did not assault the officer; complied with the officer’s lawful commands.

Miscellaneous: Roquemore’s mom said he used to be “high-functioning” but had declined in the past year and should have been receiving mental health care.

Justified Use of Deadly Force? YES, the officer was alone and had been assaulted by an emotionally disturbed person who was not affected by the Taser. Reasonably fearing for his life as the subject menacingly advanced toward him, the officer used justified deadly force.