Constitutionalist blames police for fatal shootout (shooting in Massillon, Ohio)

The Canton Repository (Ohio) ^ | August 13, 2002 | ED BALINT

[ResistorSister]

CANTON — Dwight Class said it didn’t have to end this way for Donald Matthews and the Massillon police officer whom he shot and killed.

Class said Patrol Officer Eric Taylor and the other officers and state trooper who were part of a fatal police chase Friday night did not have the authority to pull Matthews over on a traffic stop.

Or to pursue and attempt to arrest him.

Class attends the meetings on constitutionality that Matthews used to lead before he died in the shootout with police that started with a traffic stop on Route 21 in Doylestown and ended at First Street NW and Cherry Road in Massillon.

Matthews was president of the National Constitutionalist Academy and studied the U.S. Constitution. He held weekly meetings at the Denny’s Restaurant on Tuscarawas Street W in Perry Township. About 15 to 22 people usually attend, Class said. He said Matthews also held weekly meetings in Cleveland.

STRONG BELIEFS. Dwight Class and his wife, Sárra,
stand outside Reed Funeral Home after attending
calling hours for Donald Matthews of Jackson
Township on Monday afternoon. Police shot and
killed Matthews after he led police on a chase and shot and
killed Massillon Police Officer Eric Taylor on Friday
night. Class said the shootout wouldn’t have occurred
if the state trooper who pulled Matthews over on a
traffic stop had shown proof that he had an oath of
office and a bond. Repository / Michael S. Balash

Class attended calling hours for Matthews at Reed Funeral Home on Monday. Visitation was held from 3 to 5 and 6 to 9 p.m.

The first session appeared to be sparsely attended. Roughly 12 to 20 vehicles were parked in the funeral home lot. Visitors trickled in during the two hours. Family members and friends occasionally gathered in the parking lot or near the entrance of the funeral home.

Class spoke strongly about the events that unfolded Friday when a state trooper pulled Matthews over for driving 12 mph over the speed limit.

If the trooper could have produced proof that he had taken an oath of office and had a bond, “it would have been a nice, simple conversation (and Matthews would have said,) ‘I recognize you as an officer now.’ ”

That would have prevented the gunshots, Class said.

“I don’t think it had to have happened at all,” the Canton resident said, citing constitutional issues.

However, his wife, Sárra Class, said Taylor “should have been shot.”

Dwight Class disagreed and told his wife to stop making the comment.

“I thought he was a good man,” he said of Matthews. “He tried to get things done; he tried to get them done peacefully. That’s what he taught in class.”

Matthews taught other constitutionalists “to get the ‘paper trail started’ ” by filing cases in court, Class said.

Class said he has filed lawsuits over traffic violations involving himself and Rodney Class. One of the cases involves New Philadelphia police, he said.

Dwight Class also said he’s filed a lawsuit in federal court in Akron over alleged civil rights violations.

He said he’s planning to take legal action this week against Massillon Municipal Judge Edward J. Elum in the Ohio Supreme Court. That complaint involves a warrant issued against Class — he said he doesn’t know what for.

Dwight Class, 51, said he retired after working 30 years at the Timken Co.

He gave a reporter a “notice” of “civil rights violations by Ohio police and (the Ohio Highway Patrol).”

“Ohio is a home-rule state,” it says. “Chances are that if the brothers and sisters are stopped by any local police, they do not have an oath of office or bond to hold a position as a civil servant.”

Without the oath or bond, an officer doesn’t have the power to arrest a citizen, Class says.

Standing outside the funeral home, he said, “We don’t have a police force in the state of Ohio; we have private, at-will employees.”

A bumper sticker on a pickup truck at the calling hours carried the slogan: “I love my country but I fear my elected officials.”

Class said he expects Friday’s incident to boost attendance at the National Constitutionalist Academy meetings.

But not everyone who attended the calling hours shared Class’s point of view.

John Newlund, 49, of East Liverpool, said Matthews was his wife’s brother-in-law.

“He gave me a card one time,” Newlund said of the academy, “and I just blew it off. I believe you should pay your taxes.”

Newlund said he would “absolutely” pull over for a traffic stop.

“He should have stopped,” he said of Matthews. “It was only a speeding ticket — it happens thousands of times a day.

“You go by the law, the law of the land.”

You can reach Repository writer Ed Balint at (330) 580-8315 or e-mail:

ed.balint@cantonrep.com

[wimpycat]

I've got the room ready and waiting

[tpaine]

Yep, its waiting, --- but its been found wanting by those that have another agenda, those who insist on using the main forum to bash & bait:

"You need more than a timeout, and I would hope that FR is not being used so that people with your wicked mindset can organize."

[Roscoe]

You need more than a timeout, and I would hope that FR is not being used so that people with your wicked mindset can organize.

Fat chance.

[tpaine]

You bet, we are 'organized', - around honoring our constitution.

You boys should learn to live with that fact.

[Roscoe]

Fat chance.

[wimpycat]

Maybe you would like to answer the question I posed to demidog on #678?

[Roscoe]

Fat chance.

[tpaine]

Who determines if someone has violated his or her oath and deems him or her a tyrant?
_________________________________

Ultimately, of course, -- our constitutional law is our guide.

Why do you even ask such simplistic questions? -- Certainly everyone here can agree on the above, no?

[wimpycat]

It's not simplistic at all. I'm asking you your opinion. Based on your knowledge of Constitutional law, who determines one a tyrant?

[He Rides A White Horse]

And they need to keep on marching out of FreeRepublic.

Really?.............I think that would apply to you, Cultural Jihad.

Your posts sound more like a liberal angle than anything. Collectivist nonsense, the State has 'rights', the State is responsible for maintaining individual behaviors, etc.

[He Rides A White Horse]

I've got some identifying to do myself Cultural Jihad. I made you a promise last night, and I intend to keep it. Ping me when you are ready.

[He Rides A White Horse]

Exactly. They are ideologues. They see the world colored by the glasses of their ideology

You are an ideologue.........and you don't wear glasses. I would call them blinders.

[tpaine]

The USSC judges both fact & law under our constitution, but under such exceptions as congress shall make. Art III, Sec 2.

In other words, the ultimate judge is really the people, who can overrule congress.

- Yaknow whimp, you should go back to school if you don't understand this basic stuff.
-- If you do understand it, why not try to frame some good controversial questions? Can you?

I doubt it.

[tpaine]

Answer it yourself then, Mr.'fat chance' roscoe.

You won't, you never do.
-- You post inane one liners.

[Cultural Jihad]

** ho-hum **

[He Rides A White Horse]

You know 'CJ' you at speak at length on issues of religion, faith; things of that nature.

I'm curious Cultural Jihad, what exactly would you say say is your religious persuasion? You never are really clear about that.

[He Rides A White Horse]

......by the way, try to refrain from graphics if you can.

Try plain words here.

[He Rides A White Horse]

I've got a funny feeling that you are going to be thinking about what your next screenname should be before this thread is over with.

[He Rides A White Horse]

Come watch this. Participate.