Mansfield police officer indicted on 40 counts

MANSFIELD – Twenty-five of the 40 charges against Mansfield police Officer Mike Garn are felonies.

The most serious is burglary, a second-degree felony. Garn, 41, was indicted on charges of unauthorized use of the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway database (17 counts), dereliction of duty (14 counts), burglary, trespass into a habitation, attempted gross sexual imposition, attempted sexual battery, menacing by stalking, tampering with evidence (two counts), sexual battery and public indecency.

The indictment was unsealed Thursday.

Garn surrendered to authorities around noon Thursday. He has been on paid administrative leave since Nov. 26.

"The city administration and the prosecutor's office will work it out as to what direction we go from here," city police Chief Ken Coontz said. "Obviously, the outcome of the indictments will determine what happens."

Richland County Prosecutor Bambi Couch Page said there were a number of complaints against Garn.

"They (police) conducted an investigation and brought the charges to our office for review," she said.

Coontz said there were allegations of police misconduct.

"As the detectives started investigating, the case mushroomed into multiple areas, which eventually resulted in a 40-count indictment," the chief said.

Coontz said the initial complaint dealt with a conversation that implied evidence could be destroyed in exchange for a sexual favor.

Seventeen of the counts dealt with the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway, an electronic information network used by law enforcement. Those charges are fifth-degree felonies.

The 14 counts of dereliction of duty are second-degree misdemeanors. The first of those counts alleges Garn "did negligently fail to prevent or halt the commission of an offense or to apprehend the offender."

The other 13 counts of dereliction allege Garn "did recklessly fail to perform a duty expressly imposed by law with respect to the public servant's office or recklessly do any act expressly forbidden by law."

Coontz said Garn's fellow officers took the allegations seriously.

"The investigation came about from information that was relayed to officers who then alerted police administration," Coontz said. "We're very proud that our department is ethical and has integrity."

Police detectives investigated Garn.

"As embarrassing as this is, we're very proud that we have high standards here," Coontz said. "We won't tolerate police misconduct. Neither will fellow officers."

Garn was hired in 2008.

Prior to coming to the Mansfield Police Department, Garn had been a patrol officer with the Ashland Police Department since 2003. Before that, he was a deputy with the Ashland County Sheriff's Office.

mcaudill@gannett. com

419-521-7219

Twitter: @MNJCaudill