Ashville Councilman Colton Henson — 'I made the situation worse by being rude'

At Monday’s meeting of the Ashville Village Council, Council Member Colton Henson requested time at the beginning of the meeting to make the following statement:

“In regards to my recent interactions with Village police officers, I wasn’t driving, but I had been drinking and my frustration at my girlfriend being taken in for a traffic violation brought out my passion. I was worried about her. By acting rudely, I was wrong. I apologize to everyone, including all village employees and my neighbors, and my constituents as well as my family, friends and colleagues. People expect more of me and in that moment I didn’t do what I should have.

The internet gossip about this incident fails to note the ongoing disagreement some of the council members like me have with some of the management efficiency issues in our police department. Those tensions were an undercurrent of my harsh words to the officers who made the traffic stop. I respect and support the police, and have done my best to provide the resources I can in the extremely limited budget here in Ashville.

It is my sincere hope that we can resolve those disagreements within the government. Using profanity and being angry solve no problems. I have to take the time to learn and move forward, and the first step is admitting I made the situation worse by being rude.”

Henson had served as a aide for Ohio U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno, however, he resigned Friday since the encounter between police officers during the arrest of another Moreno campaign aide, Abby Wright.