East Cleveland officers indicted on charges related to car crash

CLEVELAND — A Cuyahoga County grand jury returned an indictment and charged two East Cleveland officers in a March incident involving a car crash. 

According to Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley, the indictment is for Cmdr. Larry McDonald, 46, and Sgt. Anthony Holmes, 36, for tampering with evidence and communications fraud, as well as several other charges.

The incident occurred on March 12, when McDonald attempted to perform a traffic stop. It turned into a pursuit, which resulted in the victim crashing into a bus stop. O’Malley said McDonald fled the scene once the crash happened, and evidence shows he didn’t report the pursuit, or resulting crash, to dispatch. 

A bystander saw the crash happen and reported it. The Cleveland Division of Police responded. 

Holmes reportedly reached out to McDonald, and after a discussion, Holmes withheld knowledge that McDonald had been involved in the pursuit. 

According to O’Malley’s office, McDonald was indicted on:

• One count of Tampering With Evidence
• One count of Failure To Stop After Accident
• One count of Telecommunications Fraud
• One count of Obstructing Official Business
• One count of Dereliction Of Duty

Holmes was indicted on:

• One count of Tampering With Evidence
• One count of Telecommunications Fraud
• One count of Obstructing Justice
• One count of Obstructing Official Business
• One count of Dereliction Of Duty

The investigation was conducted with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.