The man shot and killed by a Cleveland police sergeant last weekend at Corner Alley Uptown was polite and apologetic during a traffic stop in Lake County two years ago.
The demeanor of Thomas Yatsko, 21, depicted in the police body camera video of his arrest in Timberlake is in stark contrast to the rage described by police before he was shot.
In the video obtained exclusively by Channel 3 News, Yatsko is soft-spoken, acknowledging he passed through a stop sign and that he had a pending warrant for missing a court date on a traffic case.
He complied while being handcuffed and sent to the Lake County Jail.
Police also found a large hunting knife in his car and Yatsko was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, a first-degree misdemeanor. The charge was later dropped.
Police say Yatsko was in a violent fight with a man inside the Corner Alley bowling alley in University Circle late Saturday when Sgt. Dean Graziolli intervened. Yatsko then violently attacked Graziolli, according to police and witnesses.
Yatsko was shot and later died. Graziolli, who was in uniform but working off-duty security, suffered severe injuries to his mouth, neck and face.
He was placed on leave while Cleveland Police investigate.