VIDEO: Solon police investigating assault allegations involving city HR director; co-worker says she suffered fractured tailbone

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Solon’s human resources director has been placed on leave as police investigate a report of an assault that took place at City Hall earlier this month, police said.

Allyne Zamcheck, a 75-year-old woman who works at the front desk, told police she was injured by Yolanda Guzman, the human resources director, on Sept. 7 while they discussed an earlier disagreement, according to a police report.

Zamcheck said Guzman, 54, tried to turn her chair while sitting in it, which caused her to fall out. She reported hitting her head and injuring her tailbone, police said.

In a phone interview with cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer, Zamcheck said she went to the emergency room and was treated for a fractured tailbone. She declined to comment further.

Zamcheck has not yet decided on whether to press charges, police said.

Security video provided by the city shows Guzman standing behind a seated Zamcheck at the front desk. The video then quickly skips to show Zamcheck getting up off of the floor and quickly walking away from Guzman.

The alleged assault is not visible in the video. Solon Associate Law Director Sarah Kostura said the video is what the city was able to capture from the surveillance system near the front desk. She said it was not altered.

“There is no better or clearer copy,” Kostura said.

Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer reached out to Guzman. Kostura responded, saying that any human resource questions in the city should go to her.

She provided a statement.

“As the situation involves two city employees and an ongoing police investigation, the city prefers not to discuss – lest that discussion create even an appearance of influencing the independent police investigation. City representatives will not be commenting further,” she said.

Police are investigating the incident as a misdemeanor assault.