Crime Fix with Angenette Levy - Drunk Dad Used Daughter As Human Shield: Bodycam

Episode Date: February 24, 2026

Ty Gracie, 39, was recorded by police body-worn cameras on February 16 telling officers to shoot him in the head as he held his young daughter outside of a restaurant in northern Ohio. Employees at Bubba's 33 called Jackson Township police because Gracie was intoxicated and left with his daughter and they feared he might try to drive. Gracie denied he was intoxicated but can be heard slurring his words. Law&Crime's Angenette Levy goes through footage of the incident in this episode of Crime Fix — a daily show covering the biggest stories in crime.Host:Angenette Levy  https://twitter.com/Angenette5CRIME FIX PRODUCTION:Head of Social Media, YouTube - Bobby SzokeSocial Media Management - Vanessa BeinVideo Editing - Daniel CamachoGuest Booking - Alyssa Fisher & Diane KayeSTAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LAW&CRIME NETWORK:Watch Law&Crime Network on YouTubeTV: https://bit.ly/3td2e3yWhere To Watch Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3akxLK5Sign Up For Law&Crime's Daily Newsletter: https://bit.ly/LawandCrimeNewsletterRead Fascinating Articles From Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3td2IqoLAW&CRIME NETWORK SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawandcrime/Twitter: https://twitter.com/LawCrimeNetworkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawandcrimeTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/lawandcrimenetworkTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lawandcrimeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

16. You need to stop walking away. You can shoot me in the head. Quit. You can shoot me in the head, buddy. Why he's not putting his daughter down. You need to stop walking away from me. Bro, man, she's going to get into it, bro.

Then set your daughter down. That's Ty Gracie holding his young daughter and disobeying a direct order from police officers. Okay. I don't want you doing my dad. I understand, sweetheart. You're reeds of alcohol. You're not complying with verbal orders. You're using your daughter as a shield.

You're using your daughter as a shield. Gracie is accused of using his little girl as a human shield against those police officers all go through the entire sad ordeal recorded by police bodyworn cameras. Welcome to Crime Fix. I'm Ann Jeanette Levy. Hi, Gracie is 39 years old and he spent the night in jail recently after he ran into some police officers outside of a restaurant and they said he refused to obey their orders and used his daughter as a shield. Gracie is facing three misdemeanor charges for that incident, disorderly conduct, endangering children and obstructing official business. It happened on February 16th at a restaurant in Jackson Township, Ohio, near Canton, about an hour south of Cleveland.

How's going, man? Good. A police report states an employee at Bubba 33 called 911 concerned because Gracie was leaving with his young daughter, and he was intoxicated. How are you doing, buddy? Good. We got a call that you were trying to. right away with your daughter, it's a little impaired.

No, I'm going back, I thought to get my pickup food. No one's impaired. I haven't even had enough to be impaired, buddy. You can go in and look at my stuff. Well, the business called and said you're intoxicated. Well, they, okay, so say somebody gives you something. Uh-huh. Okay?

Yeah. And you haven't even had a couple of sips of it, plus you've been in there for 45 minutes? Uh-huh. So how am I intoxicated? Well, I just have to investigate it. Well, then go on there and look at my drink. Well, I can do more than just looking at your drink. You could have a drink before you got here.

I didn't drink before I got here. I got my baby with me. Okay. Do you have your idea on you? Okay. Listen, stop walking away from me. I'm getting my food. And why are you guys doing this to my kid?

This is entrapment. It's not intramment. What you guys are doing is entrapment. You need to stop. Do you see what you're doing? No, you're doing this. I'm not the one that I was drinking. Listen.

You know, let me get my food? I need your identification. Okay. I don't have my eye identity. Okay. What's your social? What? What is your social?

I don't know my social. Okay. You're going to be placed in a rest of obstructing if you want to keep playing that game. Please, please. I don't want you taking my dad. I understand, sweetheart. He's not, we just got to figure some things out. You're making this complicated.

I'm not. You guys, this is, I didn't do anything. I want the Bubba's. Okay. Like, this is ridiculous. It is. You could be giving your name. I could be making sure you're not in there.

I didn't do anything to anybody, buddy. Okay. You can go in there and let us. I look on camera, I just was trying to get my receipt. I tipped the waitress well. I didn't do anything. I didn't even touch any drinks or anything. Then why would they call saying that you were drinking in there?

Because I got a margarita and then she said not to drink it, so I stopped drinking it. Who says not to drink it? The waitress. Why would she tell you not to drink it? That's what I'm asking you, buddy. Okay. I need your social. I don't know it.

Okay. I need you to set your daughter down. I'm not setting my daughter down. 16. You need to stop walking away. You can shoot me in the head. Quit. You can shoot me in the head, buddy.

He's not putting his daughter down. You need to stop walking away from me. Bro, me and you is going to get into it, bro. Then set your daughter down. Stop reaching. Set your daughter down right now. That's my teeth. That's my keys.

Put your hands behind your back. Put your hands behind your back. That's my teeth. What am I doing? What am I doing? What am I doing? What am I doing? What are you doing?

No, you're doing this. I'm not even doing anything wrong. They're grabbing me up. I'm not even, I'm not resisting. Nothing. I'm not doing anything wrong. I didn't do anything wrong. I don't know about you, but I find this really hard to watch.

This little girl is with her dad, and he's obviously slurring his words. It appears that he's had at least a few drinks. Employees at the restaurant, they were obviously worried that he'd have. had too much to drink and that he was going to drive with his daughter. So they called police. Despite that, Gracie insists, he's fine. Will you take her home to our grandma at least? Will you take her to our grandma at least?

This is drunk, bud. You're drunk and an idiot. That's what you're doing right now. You understand that, right? You're judging me. You're being a drunk idiot. We haven't even had a full conversation. You're about to leave with your daughter hammered.

Yeah, I'm judging. The thing is, go in there and look. I'm not hammered, that's the thing. You guys are just talking to me. Because you're being an idiot. I'm not being an idiot, sir. I respect you guys, I respect everybody. You pat him down the rest of the way.

All right. I don't have it. If you guys are worried about stuff, I don't have anything. I'm not that type of friend. We're going to sit in the back of car for a minute, okay? I don't know why you can just comply from the beginning. Huh? Got to walk ghost.

The only reason is on the reason. was because if you guys would understand, I didn't really do anything. I'm not acting like to idiot. You're fleeing away from me using your daughter as a shield. You're walking away from a copy of the house. Because I don't know what to do with the kid. You just have a conversation. It's a kid that's induced and panic.

So I'm just trying to protect my daughter. You were, though. That's exactly what you're not an idiot. I will tell you that too. I'm not in every way. No, I'm not saying you are, but you're asking you ever call you one. We are going to adjust your cuffs. If you do anything, you're getting put on your face, okay?

Anything in the military or anybody does. I'm not against anybody or anything. I'm not that type of person. You guys are taking me completely the wrong way. I know. Give me sorry. And this is not right at all. Listen.

So if I come in the Bubba's and get some food with my daughter, then that's illegal. You're going to adjust your cuffs. We're going to adjust your cuffs. If you're going to adjust your cuffs. can comply, okay? Okay, I will comply with you can do anything. You're gonna go on your- I'm not gonna go against your order, sir.

Okay, I appreciate that. We'll adjust- I'm not here for- I'm not here for- We're gonna adjust these. We'll talk, just give us a second. We're gonna go on you, baby, everything's fine, money. We're gonna fix your handcuffs, we'll pick, then we can talk.

That's fine. Because any of you kept in the same, I still keep you with the same stuff, absolutely, I appreciate that. And you don't have to worry about me on nothing like this, okay. Go ahead and turn your- The wrist don't... Imagine somebody's going to burden with your daughter and then this happens.

Yeah, I'll understand. I'm not here for no... I'm not here for a... That's fine. I honestly, you can ask them. I asked him all the same thing. I asked for my chat. So you...

Alright, we're going to take you in the back of the cruise and we'll be right back with you, okay? If you went ahead and I'll put him in. Go on. I wasn't even here long enough to even do anything, buddy. Eureka booze. Yeah, I'm gone. Okay. You wreath of alcohol.

You're not complying verbal orders. You're using your daughter as a shield. I'm not using my daughter as a shield. You 100% were, boss. No, I wasn't. You can see my daughter was crying, so I was hollering here because I'm in the phone. I wasn't using my daughter as a shield at all or anything like that, so that's all statements. You can see that she was in distant panic to like some other female hearing, and she calmed down.

I'm not trying to disobey your orders or anything like that, sir. How is it? Here's a look at that interaction from another angle. You guys are just talking to me. Because you're being an idiot. I'm not being an idiot. I'm not being an idiot, sir. I respect you guys.

I respect everybody. You have him around. Yeah, yeah, he's good. I don't have it. If you guys are worried about stuff, I don't have any, I'm not that type of question. We're ready to sit in the back car for a minute, okay? I don't know why you can just fly from the beginning. Huh?

Double off this. If you guys would understand, I didn't really do anything. I'm not acting like an idiot. We've never had a phone conversation. You're not an idiot. You were walking away from a coffee with a lot in your hands. That's kind of serious. Because I don't know what to do.

It's a kid that's like induced a panic. It's a kid that's induced in panic. So I'm just trying to protect my daughter. I'm not trying to be complicated. You were, though. That's exactly what you did. And I'm not an idiot. I will tell you that too.

I'm not an idiot either. No, I'm not saying you war, but I would never call you one, because I appreciate everything you guys do and anything in the military, anybody does. I'm not against anybody or anything. I'm not that type of person. So you guys are taking me completely the wrong way and I'm being treated the wrong way. And this is not right at all. Listen. So if I come in the bubbles and get some food on down or then that's... We're going to adjust your cup.

We're going to adjust your cup. If you can comply, okay? Okay, I will comply. If you do anything, dear, you're going to go. I'm not, I'm not going to go against your orders, sir. Okay, I appreciate it. Well, I'm not here. I'm not here for it.

I'm not here for. Just stop talking to two seconds, okay? Okay. Thanks. We're going to have two seconds. We'll talk. Just give us a second. We're going to fix.

I love you, baby. Everything's fine, honey. We're going to fix your handcuffs real quick. Then we can talk. Is that cool? That's fine. And even if you kept them the same, I would still teach you with the same. Absolutely.

And I appreciate that. And you don't have to worry about me on nothing like that. Gotcha. Go ahead and turn your right, son. Yeah, imagine coming to get a burger with your daughter and then this happens. Yeah, I understand. I'm not here for no bullshit. I'll see if they're just to stay.

If you all, I'll ask them. I ask them all the same thing. I ask for my chat. Okay. So you're gonna get the same story from everybody. If you want to head, I'll put him in one. Okay. I don't know what you'll do.

I don't know what you'll do. Now, just throw him in mine. Oh, let me put his... Oh, West, I'm going to throw this up real quick and do this like this, okay? What is it? I mean, he's trying to leave his daughter. Right now it's, yeah, he's just a... He's just a...

You sort of walk away from my house. Now, this is not a good situation. Not at all. You have a little girl who's just watched the cops slap the cuffs on her dad, who's obviously under the influence, and he's denying it. The officers do a little more investigating at the scene, including looking in Gracie's silver truck. He has an open container in the front seat. He was drunk when you came down. I mean, we got obstructing and just orally by in talks. Yeah, no, for sure. The audio on the body-worn camera footage drops out at points during this whole ordeal, the officer wrote in the police report that there were multiple open containers,

including half a bottle of tequila in the driver's door, and an open premixed margarita in a cup holder. A short time later, the officer goes to talk with Gracie, who's in the back of another cruiser. No, I might smell like alcohol, because I understand because if someone drinks around me and I haven't drank, I can smell it. I completely understand that. But if you go in there and see what I mean, like, I didn't. You have alcohol open containers in your car. They're not mine.

I don't know who's in the peace. That's fun. It's not my vehicle, and there's also people. Yeah, we have witnesses saying you came in drunk and you were cussing and yelling. I never cussed her, yelled once. You can even ask my daughter that. Okay, that's fun. And my daughter don't lie.

Okay. Do you have anything I know that you're not supposed to have? You're going to be booked in the Stark County Jail tonight? I don't have anything on me, buddy. I told you. I don't know. I'm not that type of person. I'm not saying you are.

All I'm saying is, do you have anything? I know you're just doing your job. We didn't find on you. I'm being honest. I appreciate it. I don't have anything on me, nothing to harm anybody, nothing bad, nothing for me. All right. I appreciate it.

I'm not here to make your job more difficult. I'm just saying like. Well, you could have been calling a ride home and you wouldn't listen. But anybody else, like, okay, you could have. I'll have a public service when you're ready. Okay, anybody could have came in. What are you saying, boss? I was saying anybody could have come in and have a burger in.

beers and stuff and I still didn't get my wings or my burgers or like any of my leftovers or anything yet okay well my daughter you can ask them my daughter threw up in there because she didn't feel good that's why we came out buddy like no one was starting no problem well how are you going to get home what how are you going to get home i was going to drive home i'm completely fine buddy i'm not i'm not doing anything i'm not breaking the walls or anything like that all right i appreciate for yourself. You want to have you hop out and just take everything out of your pockets from now, okay? Much room to live, so...

Once you threw me in there, like, what did you have everything back? You know, that's all right off. Where does your wallet and stuff, though? They must have it in there, stuff. That's what I'm saying. They must have my wallet and money and stuff. Come on, I put it back in your pocket books. Maybe I get it to my partner.

No, you're right, I give it to my partner. You guys, you know, much money is in my pocket. Not much money is in my wallet. We're going to count it all in front of you. Go ahead and have a seat again, okay? Hi, this is Officer Myers, the Jackson County Police Department. Because that's my money I get paid for work, so I will need that. While this is going on.

Do you call? Okay. A second officer goes into Bubba's to talk to the staff. So apparently, my host did not tell me this, for I thought you guys, apparently he was already stumbling when he walked in the door. He had here, he had an 18-ounce frozen margarita, and then he had a shot of the envelope. Unfortunately,

I did not know he had that much until he had come up to the host inn already and was claiming that the shot was not what it was supposed to be, blah, blah, blah, blah. And I wanted to take that for you. I said, you don't know, I basically cut him all right in. And he was like, oh, I'm a service manager at his store. I'm already a manager somewhere else, blah, blah, blah. So his daughter grew up on the table where we tried being, like, you know, like, hey, like, what are you doing after this? Like, do you have a buddy that you can call from? He did you ever anything else? He got pretty hostile and was like, are you going to call the authorities on me?

And so then I watched him get up. He got in my host's face and said that he was going to, I forget his exact words, basically about EF some people up. We're like, get five people, Fsome people up in here, whatever. I saw him walking out with his daughter, stormed out. I obviously, I called you guys as soon as I see him getting hostile with everyone, because I knew that he was going to get an escape. Would you like to talk to the server?

If you go. Yeah, of course. She was at a table bottle. Yeah, no. No wrong. After getting the lowdown from the staff at Bubba's, the officer outside calls one of Ty Gracie's parents to arrange for either his mom or his dad to pick up his daughter and that silver Chevy truck. Hi, this is Officer Myers again. We got a call that your son was impaired at Bubba's.

He was drinking and then he was attempting to leave with his daughter. I made contact with him. His daughter was in the back seat. I asked him to talk to me. He had his daughter go out of the car and goes, oh, we're just here to pick out food. I said, okay, well, I just got a call saying that you're going to drive and you're pretty, pretty drunk. And he goes, I'm not drunk. I said, that's fine. You might not be. I just want to make sure that you're okay to be driving your daughter. At which point in time, I asked him for his ID. He said, I'm not giving that to you. I mean, he has to go to jail. He was using her as a human shield to try to get away from me, trying to use her as a human shield.

I mean, that's, I mean, I have you come pick her up and grab the truck. But he's going to jail. I mean, you're not going to use a job, use a little child as a human shield and then try to run from me. I try to be cordial and I let him know that he was too impaired. We'd give him a ride and we'll go from there. But your son made this twice as worse. He should have been calling a ride right now and going home with her. I tried my best.

Well, that's what public defense for. Like I said, we're not going to impact. your truck. I said, we're not going to impound the truck. Like I said, I'm trying to work with you. But, uh, all right, I appreciate it. Nope, you're good. Thank you. Bye. After speaking with one of Ty Gracie's parents, the officer goes back to Ty, who's in the back of that cruiser. So like I said, you do have the right to me inside. I'm going to ask that you invoke that because I don't like when people will put kids in the way of jeopardy and stuff like that. They kind of me off. So, you're good to have a seat. I'm not going to get you out again. Are you going to have her take or are you taking it?

I'm taking it. Okay. Is it my hoodie back up for me? Sure. Don't have a seat. Hey boss. So the county will not take any cards that don't have your name on it and they won't take, uh, do you want to take, uh, did anything else? Okay. Are we good with leaving that stuff with your dad? Absolutely. Okay. Perfect. Do you just want to take your ID in your cash? Or do you want to just take your ID? Give everything to your father? Okay. That works. We are going to have your ID. It will get booked in with you. It just makes it easier for them, all right?

I understand for information. Okay. Moments later, Ty Gracie's father arrives. Hi, are you, Jim? I'm Officer Myers, like I said. He's a good dad and everything. He's got some of his shoes. I mean, he picked it up.

He hadn't dove his hand in his pocket. So he's lucky he's down the body bag right now. I mean, huh? She's over here. Is she okay? Yeah, he has a half-drank politics. keel in his front seat is long thing like marguerite. Okay.

So we've been, we've done her raise up to age. He's been a real good dad, but he's got a problem. Like I said, man, I'm not trying to screw you guys. He did once you, we left all this property with you guys. It's in the front seat of the truck. What? Like his wallet, his phone. Yeah.

I mean, we're, we're our 70s, man. We don't. I get, you guys want to be grandparents. You want to be parents. I work two jobs. I get you. Like I said, we're not impound on the truck. I could be impounded of the truck.

I appreciate it. We can make this down harder. I'm sorry about everything. It's very embarrassing. But he's had a problem. He gets over it and he gets back. He loves his daughter, though. Child services is going to be contacted.

Oh, I know. I mean, really see what's going to make it easier for? Your mom hasn't been seen 120 days. Okay. That's fun. We're filing for abandonment. That's fine. Great grandmother.

I get you. Like I said, I'm not blaming you guys. I'm a little . I mean, I don't like to put kids in the way of harm. I know what you have to do. We've just, we've got her grades up to all A's. And maybe you guys, I get you guys to the ground. She lives in a nice place, okay.

I get it. Gracie and the other officer are now on their way to the police department. I mean, you're basically going to be put in a holding, in a holding thing to you. So they deem you sober, they can cut you loose the court date. Give me one second, man. That's right, man. Lock your step with the yellow rolls. No, I, I says everybody.

Yeah. You don't know, you didn't tell me. See, you get hurt right now. It's all right now. I'm sorry. Rightly. Directly to your left past the story. This just feels like dumb, dumb because I didn't even.

Just have to see on that bench right there for me, okay? Ty Gracie was booked into the Stark County Jail on those three misdemeanor charges that I mentioned earlier. His bond was set at $5,000. Gracie has pleaded not guilty to the charges he faces. And that's it for this episode of Crime Fix. I'm Ann Jeanette Levy. Thanks so much for being with me. I'll see you back here next time.