East Cleveland Police chief pleads not guilty to felony financial crimes

CLEVELAND, Ohio  — East Cleveland Police Chief Scott Gardner has pleaded not responsible to felony fees for monetary crimes.

Gardner appeared within the Cuyahoga County Court docket of Frequent Pleas Wednesday morning the place he was indicted on fees of aggravated theft, fraud, theft in workplace and extra.

A bond of $5,000 was set for him.

His first pretrial listening to is ready for Oct. 3 at 9 a.m.

Gardner was been suspended and positioned on administrative depart final month following the indictment.

East Cleveland police chief suspended after indictment for monetary crimes

The indictment alleges Gardner did not file returns and pay taxes from 2014 to 2019, and purposely falsified, destroyed, eliminated, hid, altered, defaced or mutilated digital gross sales tax return information with the aim of defrauding the Ohio Division of Taxation. The quantity allegedly disadvantaged from the division was between $150,000 and $750,000.

The indictment additionally alleges Gardner handed a number of dangerous checks within the quantity of $16,200 with the aim of defrauding US Financial institution and/or the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 39.

East Cleveland police chief suspended after indictment for felony monetary crimes