Cleveland police officer admits role in intentionally damaging two colleagues’ cars, city documents show

CLEVELAND, Ohio – A metropolis police officer conspired to puncture the automobile tires of two fellow Cleveland officers, incomes her a 20-day suspension with out pay, just lately launched metropolis paperwork present.

Patrol Officer Melissa Marquard in January traveled to a fellow officer’s dwelling in Lakewood, the place Marquard’s sister used screws to flatten the tires of two automobiles parked within the driveway, in keeping with an Oct. 31 disciplinary letter signed by Security Director Karrie Howard.

The automobiles belonged to Marquard’s former boyfriend and his feminine buddy, who lived within the Lakewood dwelling, in keeping with a Lakewood police report.

Howard’s letter mentioned Marquard admitted to her position within the property injury. She started her suspension on Dec. 16, a police spokesperson confirmed. When it ends, she can be transferred from the division’s Second District to its First District.

Jeff Follmer, the president of the union representing patrol officers, declined to remark.

The incident occurred Jan. 7, when Lakewood police had been referred to as to research a broken car. After arriving to the feminine sufferer’s dwelling, a Lakewood officer noticed a automobile with flattened tires, one in every of which contained 9 screws lined up throughout the tread.

The proprietor of that automobile — a male Cleveland officer — advised the Lakewood police officer he had just lately ended a three-month relationship with Marquard and that she was upset he had befriended the feminine officer.

Earlier that day, the feminine Cleveland officer had found a number of drywall-style screws in her driveway, some hooked up to a chunk of wooden. Her tires had been low, so she took her automobile to a service storage, she advised the Lakewood officer.

Lakewood police additionally obtained surveillance footage from a neighbor, which confirmed a automobile approaching the sufferer’s dwelling at an unknown time and shining a flashlight onto the property, in keeping with the police report.

Lakewood police opened an investigation into felony damaging or endangering, however Marquard was by no means charged.

When Marquard realized she was below investigation, she knowledgeable her superiors, in keeping with Howard’s letter. She additionally paid restitution to each colleagues.

Marquard’s suspension was additionally influenced by “a sample of sick abuse utilization,” Howard’s letter mentioned.

Marquard is a nine-year veteran of the division, in keeping with metropolis paperwork. Her disciplinary historical past features a seven-day suspension in 2020 for failure to finish reviews, and a four-day suspension final 12 months for failure to inform the police division’s medical unit of prescription medicines.