New police body-camera footage shows San Francisco 49ers principal owner Jed York asking officers what they were doing before telling them he was “just driving” as they handcuffed him during an undercover prostitution operation in East Palestine, Ohio.
The footage, released by the East Palestine Police Department after York’s Aug. 23 arrest, captures officers approaching his rental SUV at the Wheat Hill Mobile Home Community, taking him into custody and later searching the vehicle.
Police initially charged York with engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools. Prosecutors later amended the first count to disorderly conduct, and York pleaded no contest Monday to that charge and the criminal-tools count, which concerned the cellphone authorities said he used to respond to the undercover advertisement.
The case resulted in concurrent one-day jail sentences with credit for time already served and $1,150 in fines. The 49ers have declined further comment, while NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says the league is reviewing York’s conduct under its personal conduct policy.
York Told Officers He Was ‘Just Driving’
The footage shows officers approaching York’s Volkswagen SUV at the mobile home community. Wearing a New York Yankees T-shirt, gray shorts and sneakers, York keeps his hands visible while an officer removes his seat belt and directs him out of the vehicle.
“Can I ask what you’re doing?” York asks as he is placed in handcuffs. When an officer asks what brought him to the area, York replies, “Just driving.” He answers “No” when asked whether he was meeting anyone.
York does not appear to resist as officers escort him toward a patrol vehicle. Later footage shows police searching the SUV and examining cash and two phones found inside. TMZ’s video captures one officer reacting to the amount of cash discovered during the search.
Court records establish that $160 seized from York was ultimately forfeited to the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force as part of the resolution of his case. The records do not establish that every bill visible during the vehicle search was part of that forfeited amount.
The Incident Report Says York Used the Name ‘Joe’
The Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force had placed an undercover advertisement on a website used to promote prostitution, according to an incident report obtained by ESPN. Investigators said York identified himself as “Joe” when contacting the number associated with the ad.
The report says York reached out twice Saturday without receiving a response. After a third message Sunday morning, an undercover officer responded and the two eventually arranged a meeting at the Wheat Hill Mobile Home Community.
Investigators said they agreed on $160 for one hour of sexual activity. York was supplied with a fictitious lot number and was arrested after arriving at the mobile home community in the rental vehicle, according to the police account.
York Pleaded No Contest After the Prostitution Charge Was Amended
York was booked into the Columbiana County Jail and released after posting $5,000 bond. When the case returned to court Monday, prosecutors amended the engaging-in-prostitution count to misdemeanor disorderly conduct.
York pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools. Court records reviewed by the Associated Press show that he received one day in jail on each count, with the sentences running concurrently, and was credited with the day he had already served.
He was fined a total of $1,150. The $160 seized during his arrest was ordered forfeited to the human trafficking task force, while York’s cellphone was returned to him. He also completed an online course as part of the case’s resolution.
Shanahan Says the Case Has Not Affected Football Operations
The 49ers said after the plea that they considered the legal matter resolved and would not comment further. York has not publicly addressed the arrest or the newly released footage.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan called it a “very personal situation,” saying he has respect for York and his family and was trying to keep the matter private. Shanahan also said York has spent the summer in Ohio and has not been around the team during training camp.
York was absent from Wednesday’s NFL owners meeting in Atlanta. Al Guido represented the organization. Guido became the 49ers’ CEO in February, while York remained principal owner and continued at the top of the organization’s leadership structure.
Goodell confirmed at the meeting that the league has not finished evaluating the matter. “It’s being reviewed under the personal conduct policy,” he said, according to the Associated Press. “We’ll do that and when there’s something to be reported we’ll talk.” No NFL discipline has been announced.