Ohio State police investigating pepper-spraying during on-field brawl

Ohio State University police said they are investigating officers who sprayed pepper spray at Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines players while trying to break up an on-field fight after Michigan’s 13-10 win over OSU. 

In a statement posted on the social media platform X (previously called Twitter), Ohio State University police addressed the incident.

‘Following the game, officers from multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in breaking up an on-field altercation. During the scuffle, multiple officers representing Ohio and Michigan deployed pepper spray. OSUPD is the lead agency for games & will continue to investigate,’ the statement reads.

Ohio State did not disclose whether the officers who fired the pepper spray work for campus police or outside police agencies often hired to work as extra security during the events. It also did not disclose the officers’ identities.

Brian Steel, president of Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge 9, posted a statement on X after the game saying at least one officer suffered an injury.

‘Following an altercation between (Ohio State) and (Michigan) football players after the game, one officer was injured and transported to the hospital,’ Steel wrote. ‘Officers are authorized to use pepper spray to stop assaults and protect themselves and others.’

In the moments after Michigan beat arch-rival Ohio State on Saturday at Ohio Stadium, Wolverines and Buckeyes players got into a skirmish near midfield after a group of Michigan players tried to plant a Michigan flag at midfield, The Columbus Dispatch previously reported.

From there, a physical altercation ensued between players of both teams. Videos that flooded social media showed several players throwing punches. After several minutes, the players were eventually separated.

Before the fight was broken up, Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer ripped the Michigan flag away from Wolverines players and threw it to the turf before walking away, The Dispatch reported earlier. 

According to reporters on the field during the fight, police used pepper spray, which caused at least two Michigan players to go to the turf rubbing their faces.

What did Ryan Day say about Ohio State-Michigan brawl?

In his post-game comments, Ohio State coach Ryan Day said he didn’t know all the details about the fight.

‘I don’t know all the details of it, but I know those guys were looking to put a flag on our field, and our guys weren’t going to let that happen,’ he said. ‘I’ll find out exactly what happened, but it’s our field.’

But he did speak to players after the fight ended. 

‘I talked to the team after the game. Without knowing all the details, there’s some prideful guys on our team that aren’t just going to sit back and watch that happen,’ he said. 

Day did not have an update on the players who were peppered sprayed. The Dispatch captured an image of Buckeyes defensive tackle Hero Kanu receiving treatment for his eyes after the altercation.

‘I don’t know if I know all that right now. It was a couple things kind of crazy that went on down there, but I think everybody’s OK,’ he said.

Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork told The Dispatch he needed more information about the incident. 

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