Before the sentence was handed down, Yonas Bokredingil told the court that the events of one night in an Ohio bar had altered the course of his life. More than two years after the encounter, he said he still struggled with sleep, trust, and the memories of being restrained by men who carried badges.
On June 15, 2026, a Medina County judge sentenced former Cleveland Police Detective Donald Kopchak to 18 months in prison after a jury found him guilty of abducting and assaulting Bokredingil. The case had drawn attention across Ohio because it involved an off-duty officer, assumptions about immigration status, and questions about accountability.
Prosecutors argued that Bokredingil had done nothing to justify the treatment he received that night. Witnesses said he had been enjoying a drink and watching the NFL Draft when two off-duty law enforcement officers focused their attention on him.
The verdict and sentence marked the latest chapter in a case that stretched from a bar in Hinckley Township to a courtroom in Medina County. For Bokredingil, the outcome closed one legal battle while leaving the impact of the encounter behind.
A Night at Buzzard’s Roost
The incident unfolded around 11:50 p.m. on April 26, 2024, at Buzzard’s Roost Sports Bar in Hinckley Township, Medina County. Bokredingil, a truck driver from Texas who had lived in the United States for about 14 years after arriving from Eritrea, had stopped at the tavern while working in the area.
According to testimony, he ordered a Corona, watched coverage of the NFL Draft, and interacted with other patrons. Kopchak, who was assigned to an ATF task force, was at the bar with Daniel Lajack, then a Portage County Sheriff’s deputy serving on a DEA task force. Both men were off duty and had been drinking.
Witnesses said the officers questioned Bokredingil about where he was from and whether he was in the country legally. Prosecutors said they demanded his identification, phone, and wallet despite having no evidence that he had committed a crime.
The Confrontation Outside
Testimony described Bokredingil being told he was not free to leave. Witnesses said Kopchak and Lajack restrained him and forced him outside. Bokredingil testified that he was tackled and pinned to the ground. Some witnesses reported seeing a chokehold. Kopchak denied using one.
Brunswick police officers arrived to find Bokredingil being held down. Body camera footage captured statements from Kopchak referencing Bokredingil’s nationality and fears that he could pose a threat.
In one exchange, Kopchak told responding officers that Bokredingil was “not from this country.” Prosecutors argued those comments reflected the motivation behind the encounter. The victim later said the experience affected him emotionally and mentally, leaving him fearful and uneasy in public settings.
Verdicts and Sentencing
Federal authorities initially reviewed the case before Medina County prosecutors pursued charges. In February 2026, Lajack pleaded guilty to attempted abduction after other charges were reduced.
He received a sentence of 90 days in jail, 90 days of substance abuse monitoring, and two years of probation. He also surrendered his law enforcement certification. A Medina County jury later found Kopchak guilty of two counts of abduction, one count of ethnic intimidation, and one count of assault after deliberations in March 2026.
The Case’s Lasting Impact
On June 15, Judge Joyce Kimbler sentenced Kopchak to 18 months in prison, with credit for time already served. Reports indicate he intends to appeal the conviction.
The criminal proceedings may have reached their conclusion, but the case continues to resonate beyond the courtroom. It raised questions about conduct by off-duty officers, the role of assumptions tied to national origin, and the consequences when authority is exercised without legal grounds.
For Bokredingil, the legal system ultimately affirmed that he had committed no offense that night in Hinckley. The man who stopped for a drink after work left with injuries, trauma, and a story that would test the boundaries of trust in those sworn to uphold the law.