Blendon Township take Officer Charged with Murder off payroll, After Levy Failure
Columbus, Ohio – Budget fallout from Blendon Township’s failed police levy has led to the suspension of pay for Officer Connor Grubb, who remains under indictment in connection with the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Ta’Kiya Young and her unborn child in August 2023.
In a press release issued June 18, the Blendon Township Police Department announced that Officer Grubb’s administrative leave status has changed to unpaid, following authorization by the Board of Trustees. The decision, formalized through a memorandum of understanding with the Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge No. 9, comes amid severe financial strain after residents rejected a proposed 4.48-mill police levy during the May 2025 primary.
“The recent failure of the police levy has put Blendon Township in a difficult financial position,” said Police Chief John Belford, who warned earlier that up to 40% of police staff could face layoffs. “This decision is driven by the need to manage resources responsibly.”
Background: Shooting of Ta’Kiya Young
The shooting occurred on August 24, 2023, in a Kroger parking lot on Sunbury Road in Columbus, Ohio. Officers approached Young after a store employee reported a shoplifting incident. Surveillance and bodycam footage show Officer Grubb standing in front of Young’s vehicle. As the car moved forward, he discharged his weapon, firing a single shot through the windshield and striking Young in the chest.
Young, who was six months pregnant, died shortly after at Mount Carmel St. Ann’s Hospital, along with her unborn daughter. At the time of the shooting, officers reportedly did not know she was pregnant.
Grubb was placed on paid administrative leave until August 2024, when a Franklin County grand jury indicted him on multiple charges, including:
- Four counts of murder
- Four counts of felonious assault
- Two counts of involuntary manslaughter
His trial, initially set for July 2025, has now been postponed to August 25.
Criticism and Civil Rights Reaction
Civil rights attorney Sean Walton, representing Young’s family, sharply criticized the township’s narrative. In a statement, Walton called the move a “public relations stunt disguised as fiscal responsibility”, accusing officials of deflecting accountability for what he described as “violent, fatal misconduct.”
“The audacity to frame this as a budget issue, rather than an act of fatal police misconduct, is disgraceful,” said Walton.
Financial Fallout: What the Levy Rejection Means
The failed levy vote, which saw 51% of residents in unincorporated Blendon Township reject the proposal, has created a ripple effect across the department. Chief Belford emphasized the need to make tough decisions, even while Grubb remains legally presumed innocent.
However, community advocates argue that continuing to employ — even unpaid — an officer facing serious felony charges raises questions about public trust and accountability.
Looking Ahead
As the township grapples with its budget crisis and the legal proceedings continue, the case remains a flashpoint in Ohio’s ongoing conversations around police reform, transparency, and the intersection of justice and local governance.
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