Special Prosecutor Appointed for Trial of Hamilton Officer Accused of Violent Booking Room Assault

Officer Stephen Heffernan faces a May trial for the alleged assault of a handcuffed man in a Hamilton booking room after a special prosecutor was appointed.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 19, 2026, 7:03 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from FOX19 NOW

Judicial Appointments and Conflict of Interest Mitigations

The criminal case against Hamilton Police Officer Stephen Heffernan has transitioned to a special prosecutor to ensure an impartial trial process. Ethan Blandino, an assistant prosecutor from the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office, was appointed after local city prosecutors recused themselves due to inherent conflicts of interest. This move, supported by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, is a standard procedural safeguard intended to maintain public credibility when a law enforcement officer faces criminal allegations within their own jurisdiction.

Details of the September Booking Room Confrontation

The charges stem from a September 24, 2025, incident involving the arrest of 62-year-old Michael Yordy on an outstanding bench warrant. Internal police records and booking room video show an agitated exchange during which Heffernan allegedly used unnecessary force against the handcuffed suspect. The officer is accused of twice slamming Yordy into a cinder block wall before throwing him to the ground. During the struggle, Yordy’s head struck a concrete desk support, knocking him unconscious and resulting in a gash that required fourteen staples to close at a local hospital.

Administrative Disciplinary Actions and Civil Settlements

Prior to the criminal indictment, the Hamilton Police Department conducted an internal probe that concluded Heffernan utilized unwarranted violence. In October 2025, the officer signed a disciplinary agreement accepting responsibility for violating prisoner handling rules, which resulted in a twenty-day unpaid suspension and mandatory behavioral management counseling. Additionally, the city reached a civil settlement with Yordy, who agreed to a 10,000 dollar payment to release all further legal claims against the municipality and the police department following the injury.