Franklin County Commissioner Erica Crawley says she and four guests were questioned repeatedly about their access to a VIP area at a July 2 veterans’ concert at Historic Crew Stadium, despite having wristbands provided by event organizers. The dispute escalated into an encounter with Columbus police officers, captured on body-worn cameras, and is now under investigation by the city’s Office of the Inspector General. Police officers in the footage said Crawley had entered a restricted area without permission, according to the account of the incident. Crawley disputed that characterization, saying Veterans Service Commission staff escorted her group into the VIP section and their wristbands were checked at the entrance. In a statement, Crawley said security approached the group four times in about 10 minutes after they moved to an outdoor patio area. She said her party was singled out while other guests were not subjected to the same checks. Crawley described the group as five Black women and said she questioned why they were being treated differently. Crawley also alleged that officers threatened to arrest her and that an officer physically grabbed her as she tried to speak with an event promoter. She said two officers followed her into a restroom. Those details are her account; the available reporting does not include a response from event security or organizers. The event, called the Veterans Service Commission Salute 250 concert, honored veterans and military families. Crawley said Franklin County provided $250,000 in public funding connected to the event, which she said distributed more than 6,000 free tickets. She said the commission also received 18 tickets for its use, including the ones provided to her group. Crawley said she requested the body-camera footage after returning to work July 8, seeking what she called an objective record. She said the footage was provided 15 days later and urged the public to review all nine officers’ cameras rather than selected moments. The footage’s full contents and the findings of the inspector general’s investigation were not detailed in the available account. A Columbus police spokesperson said the department could not comment because the matter is under investigation. No arrest is reported. Crawley, a Navy veteran who helps oversee the county jail budget, said her reference to the jail during the exchange was meant to convey that she understood the system and believed she had done nothing warranting arrest. The investigation will help determine how the encounter unfolded and whether the actions of police and event security were appropriate. Crawley is seeking transparency and accountability from the police department, organizers and security personnel.