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Patrol: No Bias Shown Toward Black State Lawmaker
By: Associated Press
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – The State Highway Patrol’ says troopers and security personnel acted properly when stopping a black Ohio lawmaker as she attempted at least three times to enter state buildings.
A patrol report released Wednesday said the agency’s investigation found no “unprofessional conduct or bias” toward Democratic state Rep. Emilia Sykes, of Akron. Sykes had filed a complaint with the patrol. She has said she’s been singled out at security checkpoints, while white lawmakers pass through unquestioned.
The 32-year-old lawmaker said she was stopped despite displaying her security badge and her bag was searched.
The report says it was standard procedure to ask Sykes to run her bag through a screening device when her badge didn’t work.
Sykes said the report was disappointing but says that’s what happens “when you investigate yourself.”