Following an emotional hearing in a Downtown Cleveland court the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office dropped all charges from a 2019 East Cleveland murder conviction In a hearing in Cuyahoga Common Pleas Court Tuesday a witness recanted her testimony that led to the conviction of Jerry Sims and called into question the credibility of the then-lead detective on the case “It was established that a key witness and a detective from the East Cleveland Police Department engaged in a romantic relationship before This was unknown to the trial prosecutors and the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office,” said Lexi Bauer a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office “Because this relationship was not disclosed to the defense and goes to both witnesses’ credibility the State conceded that a constitutional violation occurred at trial said in court Tuesday that Lundy pressured her to lie on the stand She agreed to testify that she witnessed the 2017 killing of Jamarr Forkland after Lundy convinced her that Sims was a threat to her safety Sims was involved in that murder at all?” asked Kim Kendall Corral Sims was found guilty of aggravated murder and other charges Sims shot Forkland following a fight at a used car lot the witness testified that she was with Sims and witnessed the murder and later purchased the gasoline used to burn Forkland’s body In an affidavit filed with the court earlier this year the witness recanted her testimony and said she lied under oath because Lundy pressured and manipulated her The witness and Lundy started a sexual relationship at some point in 2017 that lasted until after the 2019 trial “I was using him for information about the case and [to] get advice so I can stay on top of it because I've never been in a situation like this before so I don't know how these things work,” the witness said during the hearing Tuesday She testified that Lundy bought her furniture took her on trips and showered her with other gifts in the months leading up to trial but in an interview with Ideastream Public Media in January “It was never intended to alter her testimony,” Lundy said It probably wasn’t the most professional thing for me to do The witness testified to a pregnancy by Lundy just a few months before the trial started He said I couldn’t because that would be evidence that me and him was messing around going into trial,” she said Lundy said he wasn’t sure whether he was the father of the baby the witness said Lundy became abusive and started exhibiting stalker-like behavior including driving to her apartment complex multiple times a day uninvited and sending threatening text messages She went on to describe instances of threatening behavior assaults and vandalism against her that were recorded in police reports with the Mayfield Heights Police Department Lundy was never arrested or charged with any crimes Mayfield Heights Police told him to stop going to her apartment The prosecutor questioned the witness about whether she discussed recanting her testimony with Sims or any of their mutual friends She came forward in 2024 to recant her testimony “I decided to come forward with the situation when I realized Ken became the chief of police,” she said Suspended East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King named Lundy acting police chief last year after Chief Brian Gerhard left the department following the release of antisemitic and racist text messages on his phone 16 East Cleveland officers were indicted on charges including felonious assault tampering with evidence and dereliction of duty King’s trial on corruption-related charges was scheduled to begin Wednesday in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court but was delayed a day following a last-minute motion to dismiss by King's attorney Shortly after the witness testimony ended Tuesday the county prosecutor’s office dismissed the charges against Sims obviously making no concession of actual innocence we would ask that this case be dismissed without prejudice,” said Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Ben McNair Judge Jennifer O’Donnell dismissed the charges and Sims will leave jail once it’s confirmed that he faces no jail time in other cases What often happens after new evidence casts doubt on a conviction is that the prosecution defends the conviction and the trial court judge denies the defendant’s motion Former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Michael Donnelly has called that a “knee-jerk reaction to deny.” The case typically then goes to the appeals court “The state should learn from this,” said Donnelly “They should be encouraging of hearings to hear the evidence to be sure someone is not suffering unnecessarily.” Donnelly has advocated for a state law that requires a hearing in open court to have new evidence presented instead of leaving it up to the trial court judge “There are some areas where a judge should not have discretion,” he said .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By David Gambino, cleveland.com Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Hollie Gallagher denied allegations from Charles Tyler that she pre-judged a motion and berated him in open court King's jury trial is on hold while the Ohio Supreme Court weighs whether to remove Gallagher from the case.Plain Dealer file photo Ohio - A Cuyahoga County judge has denied that she was disrespectful to an attorney before the start of a public corruption trial though she admitted that she was upset about a late motion filed just hours before the proceeding was to begin Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy put the trial on hold and ordered Gallagher to fully address each allegation and stripped her of authority over the case until she rules on Tyler’s request Gallagher responded to Kennedy on Friday in a letter obtained by cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer She said she was not “hostile nor disrespectful” to Tyler and can be a fair and impartial judge over the case Tyler and prosecutors got into an argument over evidence during a conference call Tuesday about the late motion Court records show assistant county prosecutors Andrew Rogalski and James May are assigned to the case Tyler wanted the court to know that the state had purportedly made derogatory statements regarding the court,” the letter reads “The attorneys then engaged in arguments regarding these alleged statements.” Gallagher told the attorneys the trial would be canceled before determining Wednesday that the defense motion was “out of rule.” She concluded that Tyler would need to provide a good reason why his motion wasn’t filed earlier The parties met in Gallagher’s chambers Wednesday where Tyler claimed the jurist said she would deny the motion before hearing his argument Gallagher’s letter said she indicated during the meeting that the trial would go forward as planned and that Tyler’s motion would “most likely” be denied it is evident that the court was indeed unhappy about the belated motion to dismiss,” Gallagher’s letter said “The motion was filed nearly seven months after Mr Tyler was retained as counsel and less than 24 hours before trial was scheduled to commence.” Gallagher said she allowed Tyler to make his argument on the record who said Gallagher had already made up her mind claimed it was a move to berate and embarrass him in front of media cameras and trial witnesses He argued she didn’t consider how her treatment of him might affect potential jurors Tyler told Gallagher on Wednesday that he didn’t believe his client could get a fair trial in front of her and asked her to recuse herself She has never disrespected any other attorney on the case who is the only African American attorney on the case,” Tyler wrote to the high court He asked Gallagher to be disqualified from King’s case and any future case where he is defense counsel “I have examined and reflected upon what has transpired and I have no concerns about my ability to be impartial to both Mr King and his counsel,” Gallagher wrote to the high court Gallagher has not responded to requests for comment A bailiff told attorneys Monday morning that they will be notified when Kennedy reaches a decision and either a new trial date or a new judge is selected King, 57, served as the city’s mayor since 2016. He was indicted last October on 12 counts unlawful interest in a public contract and soliciting or receiving improper compensation Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley said King demonstrated “a complete disregard and disdain for the rule of law.” Prosecutors said King steered more than $75,000 in city money to companies that he or his family members owned He is also accused of filing a false disclosure claim and giving a city-owned car and gas card to former Councilman Ernest Smith is charged with theft in office and two counts of theft Both Smith and King have pleaded not guilty with King calling the charges against him politically motivated Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices and East Cleveland made sure to give people like Shirley Oldham a warm welcome back on Friday during its grand reopening celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr Been waiting on this for a while,” said Shirley Oldham Even Marcedes Horton said she could feel the love as she walked around for the first time “Everybody was posting like the new gym is just amazing News 5 first told you about the city’s plans to reopen the civic center in March RELATED: Recreation center to reopen in East Cleveland after being closed for years the city has kept its word and finally opened the center’s doors to reveal the newly renovated space “This is an important time for our community I’m just excited that we have a gathering place for everyone,” said East Cleveland Mayor Sandra Morgan the city said the center has been vacant due to much-needed repairs to bring it up to date and to make it safe and I personally feel like if the rec was open we would’ve been able to grab the kids and have a little peace in the environment around here,” said East Cleveland Service and Parks Director Antonio Marshall city leaders hope this will be a step in the right direction to restore what’s been lost in East Cleveland and faster than I think anyone could’ve expected and I’m delighted about it,” said Morgan Fox 8 Cleveland WJW The city said they don't have enough police The city said they don't have enough police Rihanna and A$AP Rocky expecting their third third child together (Video credit: AP) The lone victim of a deadly plane crash Monday evening in Ashland County has been identified Residents of a Berea home escaped a house fire that broke out early Tuesday morning Another round of rain will develop on the backside of the low Tuesday afternoon/evening Scattered showers are decreasing through the late night and overnight There are still a few leftover showers and storms through late evening There's a new push to install seatbelts on school buses in one local district Akron police said they arrested a 31-year-old man who crashed his car into an apartment building striking a gas meter and prompting an evacuation then rammed a police cruiser multiple times hey're invisible invaders found in the air Tears of joy over a positive pregnancy test quickly turned to tears of fear for a Conneaut woman The National Weather Service has issued Severe Thunderstorm Warnings for Coshocton Your access to this service has been limited If you think you have been blocked in error contact the owner of this site for assistance If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site please enter your email address in the box below and click "Send" You will then receive an email that helps you regain access Wordfence is a security plugin installed on over 5 million WordPress sites The owner of this site is using Wordfence to manage access to their site You can also read the documentation to learn about Wordfence's blocking tools or visit wordfence.com to learn more about Wordfence Click here to learn more: Documentation 6 May 2025 12:21:15 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); Suspended East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King (right) stands next to his attorney King and former Councilman Ernest Smith are set to go to trial Wednesday.Sean McDonnell told cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer that his client has been patiently waiting for his day in court “We still believe that it’s politically motivated,” he said of the case “We’re looking forward to the state putting forth its case And then a jury of his peers will decide what should happen.” Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Hollie Gallagher will oversee the trial King, 57, served as the city’s mayor since 2016. He was indicted last October on 12 counts He is also accused of filing a false disclosure claim and giving a city-owned car and gas card to Smith Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer attempted to reach Smith’s attorney for comment The indictment stemmed from separate investigations by the Ohio Ethics Commission and the state auditor’s office at a time when East Cleveland had been strapped for cash for decades The city has been under fiscal emergency for years which requires state oversight of the city’s finances King argued in a December hearing that the charges against him “are his political adversaries using the power of the prosecutor’s office to accomplish what they have not been able to do through recall elections and other means.” King appealed the decision to the Ohio Supreme Court on Feb prosecutors argued that his appeal was filed one day outside the 30-day window required by state law The high court ruled the appeal untimely and dismissed it on March 18 Mariah Crenshaw, an East Cleveland advocate and founder of grassroots group Chasing Justice called the case against King “another bite at the corruption” in the city “I think that East Cleveland residents deserve better,” she said “They deserve someone who’s going to ensure that the money that comes into the city is spent on the city and not on personal agendas.” Crenshaw said corruption in East Cleveland runs deep. She recently spoke out at a hearing for three former East Cleveland police officers who were sentenced to prison on corruption-related charges O’Malley said his office has charged 19 East Cleveland officers with crimes in the past couple of years in an effort to create a safer community King and Smith will have their turn as the latest East Cleveland officials to face a jury A Cuyahoga County Probate Court Judge has appointed a long-time East Cleveland resident to serve as interim mayor Sandra Morgan is a member of the state commission overseeing finances for the city of East Cleveland and is the granddaughter of Cleveland inventor Garrett Morgan Her appointment was announced Friday by Cuyahoga County Probate Court Presiding Judge Anthony J East Cleveland has been without a mayor since the end of January when a special commission of three retired judges voted to suspend mayor Brandon King while he faces corruption charges Morgan will serve until King is reinstated by appeal or the charges against him are dismissed he is found not guilty or a new mayor is elected In October, King was indicted in Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas for multiple counts of theft in office and having an improper interest in a public contract, both felonies, along with several misdemeanors Prosecutor Michael O’Malley initiated a procedure with the Ohio Supreme Court to have King suspended while his case is adjudicated the prosecutor’s office sent word to East Cleveland officials of the commission’s decision and that King’s suspension begins immediately King’s indictment and suspension is the latest in a series of scandals in the Cleveland suburb of roughly 13,000 people More than a dozen police officers have been convicted or face pending charges for misconduct including theft and excessive force while on duty former Chief of Police Scott Gardner pleaded guilty to a tax charge in Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas left office last year following the release of racist Gerhard’s replacement, Kenneth Lundy, is now facing allegations of misconduct including an inappropriate relationship with a witness in a case he investigated the three-judge commission did not make a ruling on whether the evidence supports King’s guilt but looked for any conduct that “adversely affects the functioning” of the mayor’s office or “adversely affects the rights and interests of the public.” Ideastream’s Jeff St.Clair spoke with the longtime resident of East Cleveland about what she plans to do as mayor of the struggling city Morgan: There are three things that really need to be considered for the City of East Cleveland to thrive and prosper into the future Number one is to get our financial house in order not just the few years that I've sat on this Fiscal Oversight Commission and we haven't made any progress whatsoever and we need to take a good hard at our finances and actually do the work necessary in order to right the ship there I think we really need to focus on public safety There is a perception that East Cleveland is a very dangerous place.. But we do have some issues surrounding public safety is making sure that our police force is up to the standard that we need them to be and that our fire department has the resources that they need to be supportive and to fight fires effectively in our community the people of East Cleveland really deserve a break in terms of public service and they're exhausted because they just have not gotten the resources that they need in order to live a fulfilled life in the city Clair: I want to go back to the first point that you made It's been in fiscal emergency for the past 12 years or so state auditor Keith Faber had suggested allowing it to file for bankruptcy which would be unprecedented in the state of Ohio What specific things do you think need to happen I'd prefer not to file bankruptcy if it wasn't absolutely necessary I think that that would signal to the citizens of our city as well as to the rest of the state that we'd simply given up But in order to address the issues that we face right now the first thing that we need to do is file the five-year recovery plan that the state has been waiting on for quite a while on how we are going to get out of fiscal emergency or at least not being in debt that allows the state and others to help us reach our goals Clair: What are some of the landmarks on that roadmap it is making sure that we pay all of our bills and that we remove ourselves from being in junk bond status we have some pretty significant funds that we have to pay to individuals in the community for things that have happened — some of the settlement money from some of the issues that we've had in the past let's create some sort of a payment plan with them Let's figure out a way to pay the money so that we get that off of our shoulders there are a lot of things that I think we just don't have the staff right now to do — some very perfunctory things like writing reports for grants that we've received or writing reports and submitting receipts for monies that we are entitled to but can't because no one has submitted the receipts these are really some pretty straightforward and easy things Three former East Cleveland Police officers are now headed to prison The trio are among nearly 20 of the city's past and current police officers indicted for a series of crimes Ian McInnes and Anthony Homes — were convicted of a slew of charges They appeared in court Monday before Judge Sherrie Miday Miday said that when a police officer violates his duty the former officers trade badge numbers for inmate numbers after being convicted of crimes while on the job McInnes was sentenced to two-and-a-half years after prosecutors said he kicked three different suspects after they'd given up RELATED: 2 former East Cleveland police officers found guilty of numerous crimes Holmes is heading to prison for one year after prosecutors say he rammed a teen's car during a chase and then lied and said the driver hit him The longest sentence went to the officer with the highest rank: McDonald Investigators say he lied about his role in two separate police chases; both ended in crashes McDonald told the judge that the loss of his job had been like prison cast upon because I did my job and I did a great job for the city of east Cleveland," McDonald said in court all three men had their police officer licenses stripped due to their felony convictions 6 May 2025 12:21:35 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); By Brian Koster and Avery WilliamsPublished: May 2025 at 3:12 PM EDTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCLEVELAND Ohio (WOIO) - Charges were dismissed in April against an East Cleveland man accused of illegally voting seven times Prosecutors say once they learned Glenford Edwards is actually a U.S PREVIOUS STORY: East Cleveland man accused of voting illegally on 7 different occasions Citizenship and Immigration Services and Border Patrol indicated Edwards was not a U.S he was charged with seven counts of illegal voting plus one county of false voter registration Federal officials have since updated their stance on Edwards’ citizenship The charges were dismissed without prejudice East Cleveland mayor Brandon King listens during a neighborhood meeting in 2019 His criminal trial was put on hold Thursday as his attorney sought to remove the judge hearing his case over allegations of bullying.(Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer)The Plain Dealer .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By David Gambino, cleveland.comCLEVELAND Ohio – Jury selection in the corruption case against suspended East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King will wait until at least Monday as his attorney seeks to remove the judge over allegations of bullying King was set to stand trial Wednesday on corruption-related charges before Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Hollie Gallagher filed a motion to dismiss three of the 12 charges Tuesday the day before the trial’s scheduled start date Gallagher met with the attorneys that day and indicated they would select a new trial date on Wednesday to give prosecutors time to respond Tyler said in his filing to remove Gallagher Tyler claims the judge announced “in a very hostile tone” that the trial would begin that day wasn’t prepared with exhibits and other items according to his Thursday filing in Common Pleas Court seeking Gallagher’s recusal Tyler told cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer that he filed an identical document The high court temporarily put the trial on hold before ultimately rejecting Tyler’s appeal because it was not properly notarized Tyler said he refiled the recusal request Thursday meaning King’s case could be delayed further if the high court considers the matter Tyler claims an angry Gallagher berated him in open court over his request to dismiss three of King’s charges The recusal motion claims Gallagher’s behavior shows she cannot be fair or neutral Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer reached out to Gallagher for comment This story has been updated. It can be viewed here Former East Cleveland police supervisor Larry "Pac Man" McDonald speaks to a judge Monday He was sentenced to four years in prison for tampering with records and evidence.David Gambino was found guilty by a Cuyahoga County jury in January of tampering with records telecommunications fraud and misdemeanor offenses Common Pleas Judge Sherrie Miday sentenced McDonald was found guilty in October of tampering with records Miday ordered him to serve a year in behind bars was found guilty in October of attempted felonious assault three counts of misdemeanor assault and other misdemeanor offenses Miday ordered him to serve two-and-a-half years in prison “I can’t get these videos out of my mind,” Miday told McInnes referring to bodycam recordings that showed him kicking defenseless suspects “Regardless of how many times they were played during the trial and then again today kicked a victim in the ribs following a vehicle pursuit on Feb The victim was on the ground and had surrendered when he was kicked McInnes kicked a 16-year-old boy who had led police on a chase Oct The pursuit ended near East 105th Street and Superior Avenue in Cleveland after Holmes falsely reported that the teen’s vehicle had struck his cruiser prosecutors said the teen sat on the sidewalk and raised his hands As he was lying on the ground being handcuffed McInnes ran up to the teen and kicked him in the groin The teen moaned in pain in a recording of the incident played for the court McInnes also kicked a 42-year-old man after responding to a call at a restaurant near Euclid Avenue and Forest Hills Boulevard on Feb was kneeling and facing away from McInnes when he was kicked in the back had found new meaning in his role as an East Cleveland police officer and stayed with the department out of a sense of service despite many encouraging him to transfer to another city such as painting his beard white and handing out chocolate coal to children while on patrol during Christmas checking on colleagues struggling with suicidal thoughts and helping motorists on the side of the road “Does this sound like a person who poses a danger to the public?” she asked “Policing is more difficult these days than any one of us can even imagine.” pointed to the “split-second” decisions required of officers “I’ve tried to display myself and do things appropriately,” McInnes said “A lot of it is heat-of-the-moment out there.” McDonald said he did what he could for East Cleveland through 17 years of service and now struggles with sleepless nights McDonald did not report that he chased a 20-year-old driver into Euclid on March 25 The driver crashed into multiple vehicles near Euclid Avenue and Chardon Road and died McDonald failed to report his involvement in another pursuit that ended in Cleveland on March 12 The pursuit stopped when the 42-year-old driver crashed into a bus stop near Ivanhoe Road and St Holmes withheld knowledge of McDonald’s involvement from Cleveland police investigators maybe I chuckled at the wrong time,” said McDonald I’m hurting … I’m hurting because my life is over Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Rogalski said McDonald’s behavior had a ripple effect on other officers “He has a responsibility to uphold the laws in the community and to serve and protect,” he said “And yet he’s the one that is committing the offenses And the effect and the level of distrust that will result in the community has to be taken into consideration.” who falsely reported that he was struck by a fleeing driver during a chase and emphasized his military service and asked for community control “We have to understand: They do what they got to do to survive,” he said He can’t ever do that again with his conviction.” Mothers of some of the victims and concerned East Cleveland residents also addressed Miday. Mariah Crenshaw, of the grassroots activist group Chasing Justice said residents are afraid of East Cleveland officers said the people of East Cleveland deserve better She ordered the men to forfeit their state peace officer certifications County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley attended part of the sentencing He said 16 of the 19 East Cleveland officers charged in recent years by his office have since been convicted He said his goal is to create a safer community “I think it sends a loud message to all police officers that you need to follow the law,” he said after McDonald was sentenced EAST CLEVELAND — Revitalization has been a top priority for East Cleveland Interim Mayor Sandra Morgan And in an effort to connect with the community Morgan hosted the city’s first empowerment luncheon “I shared my message about personal empowerment political empowerment and community empowerment There's so much goodwill in this community and there's so much passion in this community that I'm looking forward to serving to the highest and best of my abilities for our citizens,” said Morgan Residents were also able to share their concerns and opinions on the future of East Cleveland their interests and what they prioritize here in this community,” said Morgan Many residents told Morgan they want the city to work on making the community attractive and safe “So that is demolition of buildings that are way past their functionality making sure that our roads are repaired and drivable and making sure the byways and our streets are safe for residents,” said Morgan The East Cleveland community has dealt with years of crime but residents like Chardonnay Graham are hopeful for the future “I am so excited for the future of East Cleveland And I believe that it's going to become a walkable city and that it's going to become a city that families are going to want to move back to,” said Graham Graham said Morgan’s message of empowerment is important because many people in the community have lost hope “I feel like East Cleveland has been neglected for so long that I don't know if people even believe or concede the vision for it yet I think that we need to start taking back our narratives,” said Graham Bookstore owners Bryan and Iris Nyerges said they have the desire to see and be a part of the change “It's so encouraging and we're just happy to be a part of it and everybody doing their part is going to bring this whole vision to fruition in this city For the first time I see and hear a game plan that we are excited for and I’m hearing some substantial stuff that I haven't heard before,” said Nyerges Many of the residents believe East Cleveland is on the rise because there is a sense of renewal in the city “The roads are being worked on an we're getting new pipes courtesy of the water and the sewer district that makes a big difference in our infrastructure Pretty soon we'll have broadband up and running throughout the community which will be great access for all of our citizens,” said Morgan And with all the great ideas from the community the city of East Cleveland is ready to turn a new page in the city’s development Ohio — A mother and her daughter are calling for better protection for senior citizens following a terrifying situation where the mother said her home was vandalized twice But I don’t want nobody to invade my privacy That’s all I’m asking is to just leave me alone that’s all,” said East Cleveland Resident Patricia Moody Moody said her home video caught the moments a person was seen carrying an object to throw at her window which she said left her with two shattered windows that are now boarded up Moody even showed us the wooden log the suspect used to break the glass “This is fighting me so bad that every time I go to my kitchen to sit down What else is going to happen to me?” she asked But nearly a month after the first breaking and entering incident Moody said the same person came back to her home they damaged her wires and confronted her with scissors both women said they want answers and justice “How are we going to address the safety for our seniors but at the same time we still need action,” said Adams My mother screaming at the top of her lungs When News 5 spoke to East Cleveland Police Chief Kenneth Lundy over the phone on Thursday he confirmed this is an isolated incident and said the suspect has mental health challenges “I don’t know what the solution is with all these people that walk around this city with those type of issues But I’m saying that it is a real call to action,” said Adams We have a different administration; we have different people with philosophies,” said East Cleveland City Council President Lateek Shabazz Shabazz said the city is working to hire more police officers fix the streetlights and open the city’s recreation center to cut down on crime it’s safe to say you’re always fighting for senior citizens?" “(He confirmed) and children; the people who have worked and paved the way the senior citizens they need protection,” said Shabazz Sometimes it has to go to the bottom before it rises back up," said Moody East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King speaks at an elementary school in East Cleveland in 2021 Thursday filed to have Judge Hollie Gallagher removed from King's criminal trial claiming she berated Tyler in open court after he submitted a motion to dismiss three of King's charges could be further delayed if the high court considers the request In identical filings submitted in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court and the state’s high court claimed Judge Hollie Gallagher berated him in open court after she became angry over his motion to dismiss three of King’s charges Gallagher was unhappy during a Tuesday meeting with attorneys over the timing of the motion and indicated they would select a new trial date Wednesday When the attorneys met with Gallagher in her chambers Wednesday she reversed her position and announced “in a very hostile tone” that the trial would begin that day who believed the trial was going to be delayed His filing claims Gallagher responded: “Don’t tell me what I said yesterday “You will go on the record and explain why you filed the motion the day before trial Tyler cited the Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct in his filing It prohibits judges from disclosing nonpublic information about decisions in pending legal proceedings only held the hearing to berate him in the presence of media and trial witnesses seated in the courtroom “She never considered how the defendant’s constitutional right to a fair trial would be impacted when the media broadcast to potential jurors her gross disrespect for (Tyler),” the recusal motion reads Tyler claimed Gallagher’s behavior shows she cannot be fair or neutral The state’s high court briefly put the trial on hold after receiving Tyler’s affidavit of disqualification on Wednesday Tyler refiled the document Thursday after the court rejected it over a notarization issue Should the court accept the affidavit and assign a case number Gallagher will be stripped of any authority over King’s case until the chief justice rules on the request such requests must be filed seven or more days before the case’s next scheduled hearing “I will not disparage anybody,” Tyler told cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer on Thursday adding that he wanted to show deference to the court “I will file the appropriate documents with the appropriate authorities and allow them to make decisions.” He is accused of using city money to pay some $14,000 annually in rent for the city’s Domestic Violence Department whose office is in a building owned by King and his family Council in June passed a resolution to stop the payments Tyler on Tuesday moved to dismiss King’s charges of theft in office having an unlawful interest in a public contract and prohibited representation by a public official He argued East Cleveland’s City Council had no authority to stop the rent payments for the domestic violence program and did so with vindictive purposes The motion says King’s “legislative process” should be exempt from prosecution under state law King is also accused of filing a false disclosure claim and giving a city-owned car and gas card to former Councilman Ernest Smith With their trial tentatively set to begin next week the county prosecutor’s office declined to comment on the case Attorney Charles Tyler (left) stands next to East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King in court last year The Ohio Supreme Court has given Judge Hollie Gallagher 21 days to address Tyler's allegations that she pre-judged motions and berated him in open court ahead of King's trial on corruption-related charges.Sean McDonnell filed an affidavit of disqualification with the high court seeking Gallagher’s removal from the case According to court documents obtained by cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy on Thursday ordered Gallagher to “fully address Kennedy also stripped Gallagher of any authority over King’s case until the chief justice rules on the matter The suspended East Cleveland mayor was indicted last October on corruption-related charges Gallagher grew upset Wednesday over the timing of a defense motion to dismiss three of King’s charges who filed the motion the day before the trial was set to begin Tyler claims Gallagher indicated to the attorneys in her chambers that she planned to deny it The Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct prohibits judges from disclosing nonpublic information about decisions in pending legal proceedings Gallagher then ordered Tyler to make his argument in open court in the presence of media and trial witnesses he argues that Gallagher didn’t consider how her treatment of him might affect potential jurors The affidavit claims Gallagher’s behavior shows she cannot be fair or neutral An official transcript of the hearing was included as a supplement to Tyler’s filing Gallagher noted that King’s motion to dismiss should have been filed seven days before trial in accordance with the state Rules of Criminal Procedure She also referenced telling the parties on Tuesday that she would continue the trial Gallagher then said that she would hear Tyler argue the motion and decide whether she would waive the seven-day requirement She made a vague reference to a Tuesday phone call between the parties that she deemed “disrespectful to the legal profession and to the court” before asking Tyler to explain the timing of his motion your honor,” Tyler told Gallagher during the hearing “I’m asking you to address what I asked you to address,” the judge said I would like to know what your good cause is for filing your motion out of rule.” Tyler said he didn’t think King would get a fair trial in front of her “I’m asking that you recuse yourself and give me the time to file a motion of disqualification with the Supreme Court,” the attorney said “My client cannot get a fair trial based on the things you’ve said,” Tyler said “The judicial canons say a judge is not to give any inkling of how she’s going to rule and in the back you already told me how you’re going to rule You have continually decided what I have said which is absolutely not what I have said,” the jurist told Tyler “… I have no doubt that I can be fair and impartial What I do doubt is the representations that both sides have made to me and that is where the anger comes from and the ire.” Gallagher admonished Tyler for causing “a predicament” by filing something “two hours before the close of business” on Tuesday said prosecutors did not object to his pretrial motion He also said Gallagher did not give prosecutors the opportunity to be heard on it Wednesday and thus she acted as judge and prosecutor Tyler told cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer on Thursday that he did not want to disparage anyone He said he would allow the appropriate authorities to make their decisions The county prosecutor’s office has declined to comment on the case As East Cleveland’s new interim mayor starts her third week on the job she says the first priority is getting a budget passed so the city can begin laying the groundwork to become a city people will one day want to move to County Probate Court Judge Anthony Russo appointed Sandra Morgan in late February after the suspension of Mayor Brandon King who faces trial in April for corruption-related charges “Every day is a revelation here at the city of East Cleveland,” said Morgan Some problems and issues are much more complicated and nuanced than I expected One of the more complicated issues is the relationship between the mayor and city council for removing meeting notices at city council “There's always been fighting and arguing and lots of back and forth,” said Morgan a lot of aggressive behavior between the mayor's office and city council.” now council president (that designation is contested by another council member,) filed a lawsuit in the Ohio Supreme Court which elevates the council president to interim mayor during an extended absence by the mayor should overrule the state law used to suspend King and appoint Morgan The court ruled against Shabazz on March 13 King’s suspension will last until he’s cleared of the charges convicted and removed from office or voted out in November protesters gathered outside East Cleveland City Hall to call on Morgan to step down so Shabazz could be appointed then she has a right to run for mayor in the upcoming election,” said activist Mariah Crenshaw she cannot serve in the capacity of acting mayor.” Morgan introduced a budget the day after the Supreme Court ruling at a special meeting of council and hopes to have it passed before the end of the month to meet a deadline set by the state commission that oversees the city’s finances “At least we're in the realm of reality now,” said Morgan, after describing the budget she inherited when she started the job as “more of a wish list” and a “Gordian knot.” “I think that we're probably within 10% of coming in on budget the city can take a close look at how to dig itself out of a deep hole Morgan seems to have won some support from some members of council Following the council meeting where the budget was introduced Councilwoman Patricia Blochowiak complimented her interpersonal skills much better than Brandon King,” said Blochowiak the former chief of staff who is under indictment for corruption-related charges But she has kept many of the other officials from the previous administration who activists were hoping would be let go including Law Director Willa Hemmons and acting Chief of Police Kenneth Lundy “My mother had a saying that you don't cut off your nose to spite your face,” Morgan said “What would I look like walking people out of the door before I knew what their function was I will make the decisions about staffing in my own due time.” Morgan plans to hire outside counsel and consultants to conduct “forensic audits” of the finance law and human resources departments once a budget for this year is in place “I just really think it's critical that we figure out where money went,” said Morgan East Cleveland’s finances have been under state supervision since 2012 Its most recent budget plan was rejected by the state in part because it had no plan to pay off the lawsuit judgements it owes In February, Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber told a House committee that “maybe the solution is that the legislature authorizes East Cleveland to go into bankruptcy.” “East Cleveland has been in fiscal emergency for the better part of our lifetimes,” Faber said “There is no foreseeable way that East Cleveland can get out of fiscal emergency.” There are no immediate plans to pursue a declaration of bankruptcy “I don't think that East Cleveland would recover from it if it boils down to no other option and no other opportunity The city’s yearly budget is around $10 or $12 million and the city has “in excess of $30 or $40 million” in unpaid debt just from lawsuits brought against it largely because of misconduct by its police department She hopes the lawsuits can be addressed through a negotiated settlement that doesn’t require bankruptcy when they are hit with big lawsuits like this East Cleveland is self-insured,” said Morgan Between August of 2022 and March of 2023, 16 East Cleveland officers were indicted for crimes committed on the job. Two more were indicted in February Two police chiefs have left office in the past three years — one following an indictment on tax charges and the other following the release of racist text messages on his phone The current acting chief, Kenneth Lundy, is facing accusations of an inappropriate relationship with a witness in a murder trial while he was a detective and lead investigator in the case Four new officers were sworn in on the same day as Morgan bringing the total number on the department to 22 It's unclear who hired the new officers who appear to have been added during the period between King's suspension and Morgan's appointment when the city had no mayor Morgan confirmed they had passed the civil service exam required to be a police officer but said she does not know where those new officers came from whether it was straight of out the academy or as transfers from other departments The goal is to bring the department up to 30 by next year and then ideally add another 15 in the year after that but there’s no money in the budget to raise salaries There are no plans yet to request assistance from the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, said Morgan. Cuyahoga County Sheriff Harold Pretel has proposed expanding the department’s law enforcement activities countywide but has yet to receive funding for more deputies “I would like to talk to our police chief and others about the sheriff's office and the role that they can play here in East Cleveland so that we're vertically integrated and we can leverage them to our highest and best use,” said Morgan “I do want to be able to ask for what we really need and want and make it the best Morgan said she sees great potential in East Cleveland and that’s why she sought the job in the first place and plans to run in the election later this year “This city has wonderful bones,” said Morgan “I think that East Cleveland has a bright future ahead of it but I think still the best is yet to come for our city.” OH — Ohio’s state auditor told members of the House Finance Committee he sees “no foreseeable way” East Cleveland gets out of fiscal emergency and suggested bankruptcy may be an option for the city “It is not a long-term solution to keep doing what we’re doing and knowing that East Cleveland will be in fiscal emergency and having a review committee into perpetuity,” said Auditor of State Keith Faber the city was placed under state financial oversight in 2012 when the city’s debt neared $6 million Now forecasts predict East Cleveland’s budget hole will grow to $30 million in three years The city’s most recent financial recovery plan was rejected by the state oversight committee the city’s failure to explain how it will pay off tens of millions of dollars it owes in judgments stemming from police misconduct cases Now Faber is calling on lawmakers to work with his office to come up with some kind of fix for East Cleveland’s finances “Maybe the solution is that the legislature authorizes East Cleveland to go into bankruptcy under the federal statue and clear off its liabilities and re-set the table so that the people of East Cleveland can talk about a future not having to pay for past mistakes,” said Faber But the auditor’s words came as a surprise to State Representative Juanita Brent “I believe it should be a concern of the state “And I feel like his comments were very humiliating.” Brent believes now is not the time for any big decisions about East Cleveland’s future The city’s mayor is now suspended and facing trial on felony corruption charges RELATED: East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King suspended from office it’s not clear who will take over as acting mayor Brent worries about what municipal bankruptcy would mean to the city The auditor’s office said it’s never happened in Ohio “Does it still retain its seat as being a city or does it have to be submerged into other communities?” said Brent The lawmaker said once a new mayor is decided; she wants to see local and state leaders sit down together to figure out how to support the city “No one in this state should just automatically feel like they need to give up on East Cleveland because the people of East Cleveland have not given up on themselves,” said Brent Monday on the "Sound of Ideas," we're joined by Sandra Morgan Morgan was appointed in late February following the suspension of Mayor Brandon King King faces a felony trial this spring on corruption-related charges—just one piece of the broader political and financial turmoil that has gripped East Cleveland for years A longtime public servant and former Director of Outreach at Kent State University Morgan is now tasked with stabilizing a city mired in deep fiscal crisis She steps into office at a time when the city is carrying tens of millions in unpaid legal judgments struggling to rebuild a depleted police force and working to overcome years of dysfunction between the mayor's office and city council We'll talk with Interim Mayor Morgan about how she's approaching these challenges we're joined by environmental activists Eddie Olschansky and Elaine Marsh to talk about the state of our rivers the power of individual action and what it means to be a steward of our shared environment the Cuyahoga River is a symbol of environmental rebirth—a once-polluted waterway that sparked a national movement Known locally as the "Trash Fish," Eddie Olschansky has spent the better part of the last decade paddling through the river in a kayak What began as a one-man effort has since evolved into a nonprofit—TrashFish—dedicated to reducing pollution and engaging the public in conversations about environmental responsibility Elaine Marsh has been a driving force behind the restoration and protection of one of Ohio's most iconic waterways From co-founding Friends of the Crooked River to leading dam removal efforts and shaping statewide trail and waterway policy Marsh's work has left a lasting impact on both the environment and the communities who cherish it Marsh now serves as a watershed specialist with Summit Metro Parks Three former East Cleveland police officers were sentenced to prison time for crimes committed while on duty tampering with evidence and telecommunications fraud Ian McInnes were all found guilty following jury trials in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court in 2024 and 2025 “These officers betrayed the public’s trust and my office will continue to work to restore that trust for the residents of East Cleveland,” said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley in a press release announcing the sentence It's the latest development in a years-long string of incidents and scandals that have included criminal wrongdoing and accusations of inappropriate behavior and abuse within the East Cleveland police department A hearing is scheduled later this month to determine whether the conviction in that case should be overturned McDonald received a four-year prison sentence and a permanent suspension of his Ohio policing certification a jury convicted McDonald of tampering with records and obstructing official business and dereliction of duty for two vehicle pursuits McDonald chased a 20-year-old male into Euclid without alerting other officers of the pursuit The driver crashed into multiple vehicles and died Following another chase into Cleveland on March 12 McDonald left the scene when the driver crashed into a bus stop shelter McDonald did not report his involvement in the pursuit Holmes was sentenced to one year in prison and also had his Ohio policing license permanently suspended Holmes struck the other driver’s vehicle and then instructed another officer to lie and tell dispatch that the driver’s vehicle struck his car he informed McDonald Cleveland Police were investigating the incident and did not tell police McDonald had been involved McInnes was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison and permanently surrendered his Ohio policing license McInnes was involved in three separate incidents in 2020 when he kicked people who were surrendering to police and posed no threat to officers in the ribs There's a new interim mayor for the embattled city of East Cleveland Cuyahoga County Probate Court Judge Anthony J Russo announced Friday that Sandra Morgan will immediately assume all powers rights and responsibilities of the East Cleveland mayor's office was one of 34 applicants to apply to replace Mayor Brandon King after he was suspended following his indictment on corruption charges King is accused of using his office to steer more than $76,000 of city money to businesses owned by him or his family News 5 Investigative Reporter Scott Noll was the first to speak with the new interim mayor delighted and ready to start working to turn East Cleveland around The mother of three grown children retired from her job as Director of Outreach at Kent State last summer who is the granddaughter of inventor Garrett Morgan said she knows residents are exhausted after years of criminal indictments of East Cleveland police officers and city officials "Something has to be done now that leads us in a more positive direction." and wants the city to open itself up to more opportunities other organizations and foundations that may be willing to help who spent the last five years on the state's fiscal commission overseeing East Cleveland's efforts to get out of fiscal emergency said fixing the city must start with its budget "Until we get our finances under control and get an honest assessment of what they are we can't move forward in anything or any direction," said Morgan "The only direction we can go is down and there ain't that far to go quite honestly." She wants an outside audit of all city spending and hopes to establish a payment plan to address the $30 million in police misconduct judgments East Cleveland has been ordered to pay whose bid for the position drew the endorsement of Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronanye said she looks forward to putting an end to the in-fighting that's plagued the city She said it's time for people to put personal agendas aside and do what's best for residents and the city "We'll have to work together and hopefully that will be a smooth mutually beneficial relationship," said Morgan "But I will say that whether it is in the words of my grandfather Russo said Morgan will remain the interim mayor until: Morgan will receive the same compensation as suspended Mayor Brandon King is scheduled for trial at the end of April His term as mayor ends at the end of the year Morgan said she plans to run for mayor of East Cleveland in the November election East Cleveland Service and Parks Director Antonio Marshall said he hopes it will give the community a safe gathering space to meet once again we were able to touch the kids that had problems We were able to grab them and just love them and make them have a different outlook than the streets The crime rate for the kids is really high,” said Marshall Marshall and Council President Lateek Shabazz said they hope to change this narrative especially after East Cleveland Police said a 15-year-old teen accidentally shot and killed himself just blocks away from the center nearly two weeks ago RELATED: Police: 15-year-old boy accidentally shoots, kills himself in East Cleveland “I’m looking for the crime to go down in this area I’m sure that will be because kids will have something to do and something positive to do,” said Shabazz News 5 received an exclusive first look at the recreation center’s newly renovated space which will include a state-of-the-art weight room I asked: “Do you think this gathering space has been missing here in East Cleveland?” Shabazz said the center has been vacant due to much-needed repairs to bring it up to date and to make it safe he said the center is ready after receiving around $700,000 from the city’s general funds and donations from Birthing Beautiful Communities for renovations Shabazz said the city even received donated basketballs TV screens and shirts from Cleveland Cavaliers Majority Owner Dan Gilbert and a $200,000 Community Development Block grant for waterproofing I think we’re a city that’s getting ready to come back up We’re going in the right direction,” said Shabazz Ohio — East Cleveland Interim Mayor Sandra Morgan hosted her first town hall at Martin Luther King Jr Civic Center in East Cleveland on Thursday and said she’s on a mission to revitalize the community A community that has been troubled with crime and even corruption is hopefully on its way to getting new life through the work of East Cleveland Interim Mayor Sandra Morgan which is giving hope to people like Westbrooks “I’ve been a homeowner in this city for 46 years and I know this city has gone down over the years and I’m hoping that she will be the one to help raise it back up,” said Westbrooks Westbrooks said she understands this progress will take time But she said it will be a relief when her concerns of illegal dumping road repairs and the reduction of critical services are addressed so it’s going to take time for us to grow to back to where we were may never see it the way it was in the 60s but at least I may see it the way it was [in] the early 80s,” said Westbrooks Since stepping into office seven weeks ago Morgan told News 5 during the town hall that she and city council members managed to pass the budget in 25 days “That’s the first time that our budget has been passed unanimously by city council and on time and at or under budget in a number of years,” said Morgan Morgan said the city council also passed legislation to cut down the number of smoke and hookah shops opening in East Cleveland while also working on new laws where retail shops like gas stations and convenience stores could soon have a curfew to prevent people from hanging around late at night She said she’s even looking into fixing the roads and replacing pipes thanks to $20 million in support from different stakeholders she said she wants to hear from the community to restore pride through initiatives to bring in more money and businesses to make East Cleveland vibrant once again “I’m looking forward to turning the page on East Cleveland to a more prosperous city,” said Morgan The next Town Hall event is on May 10 at the East Cleveland Public Library from 11 a.m Ohio — A former East Cleveland police commander said he never meant to mislead officers about his role in two pursuits that led to crashes Larry McDonald was on trial Wednesday for what prosecutors said were two crashes and cover-ups McDonald took the witness stand and defended himself against 11 charges prosecutors said McDonald failed to tell other officers that he was involved in a pursuit that ended in a crash that killed a 20-year-old man in Euclid It was unclear what led up to the crash at the time The car totaled at least four vehicles and damaged another eight at a car dealership lot after slamming into a row of iron and concrete fence posts along Euclid Avenue smashing into and destroying an RTA bus shelter RELATED: One dead after car crashes through Euclid dealership, bus shelter On the witness stand in his criminal trial Wednesday McDonald testified he was trying to catch up to the car as his speed topped 90 miles an hour with his police lights and sirens going I don't even know if he knew I was behind him," said McDonald McDonald resigned from the East Cleveland Police Department in 2023 after investigators said he failed to report another pursuit in Cleveland that ended in a crash in March of that year RELATED: Former East Cleveland Police sergeant charged in connection with deadly crash McDonald said he was not trying to mislead officers when denying his involvement and said he was "freaking out" after the Euclid crash specifically McDonald also said that during the Cleveland crash he was already making a U-turn and had not seen the crash But prosecutors seized upon a comment caught on McDonald's body camera after the crash "I knew he was going to do that," said McDonald The former commander said he made that comment in response to the man's reckless driving and not the crash But investigators said even after another officer called McDonald and told him about the crash and that a passerby told Cleveland police the Jeep was being chased by East Cleveland police McDonald still failed to return to the scene "I didn't want them believing that I was actually watching this guy crash because I didn't ever see him crash his vehicle," said McDonald UPDATE: Following this story's publication the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office provided a comment which can be found at the bottom of the story A Cuyahoga County man serving 40 years to life for a 2017 murder is asking for a new trial after a key witness came forward alleging she had a sexual relationship with a detective working the case who pressured her to provide false testimony The detective is now East Cleveland’s acting chief of police and the misconduct allegations against him could force the reversal of the 2019 murder conviction of Jerry Sims in Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Sims was convicted of murdering Jamarr Forkland and burning his body The allegations against Police Chief Kenneth Lundy include an inappropriate relationship with the state’s lead witness in the case; years of alleged harassment and intimidation of that witness following the conclusion of the trial; and a history of misconduct at previous employers prior to taking a job with the East Cleveland Police Department that was not fully disclosed at trial “It has become clear that the state’s key witness was subjected to sexually exploitative and physically abusive conduct by the lead detective for the state during the homicide investigation and trial proceedings,” Sims’ attorney Kim Kendall Corral “That witness was induced to offer knowingly false testimony as the result of fear-based intimidation undisclosed benefits offered by the detective sexual exploitation and other misconduct.” Lundy acknowledged the relationship in an interview with Ideastream Public Media but denies he pressured the witness to lie and harassed and intimidated her “Not once did I ever have her lie or lock someone up who didn’t do something,” he said Lundy is the latest person to lead East Cleveland’s scandal-ridden police department to face misconduct allegations East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King named Lundy acting police chief last year after Chief Brian Gerhard left the department following the release of antisemitic and racist text messages on his phone Sims’ girlfriend at the time of the murder testified at his trial that she saw him commit the murder two years earlier at a used car lot on Superior Avenue near East 115th Street She now says that was a lie and that between her first statement to police when she told them she hadn’t seen the murder or gone to buy the gas used to burn Forkland’s body Lundy and Jane Doe began a sexual relationship according to a signed affidavit referenced in the filing “Jane Doe reports that after their relationship became sexual Lundy began to pressure her regarding her statement,” according to the court filing Lundy denies that he pressured Doe to change her statement but acknowledged in an interview with Ideastream Public Media that a sexual relationship began before trial because of frequent calls from Doe and requests to protect her from Sims Lundy said he believes Doe is coming forward now and recanting her testimony because of jealousy over his September engagement she knows some of the same people I know,” said Lundy she just stared at me — didn’t say anything said Doe came forward about Lundy and the Sims case months before he was engaged “It had nothing to do with his engagement,” said Hibbard “Jane Doe came forward with this because she feels concerned that he is responsible for the safety of the citizens of East Cleveland.” Sims’ attorney also submitted several police reports from Mayfield Heights Police beginning in 2021 and spanning through 2023 detailing repeated calls to police from Doe about arguments with Lundy that allegedly turned violent; an unwanted visit from Lundy his sister and his friend; and Lundy driving to her apartment complex in an undercover East Cleveland police vehicle 13 times between Sept coincided with one of two instances of Doe’s car being vandalized Doe told the officer she could not think of anyone who could be responsible for the damage she called Mayfield Heights to check the license plate of Lundy’s unmarked police vehicle “I asked [the witness] why she would suspect Lundy being responsible for either one or both incidents with her car [She] told me that even though they are not together Lundy suspects her of having relations with other men and it upsets him,” the officer wrote in the report Lundy said he was not aware of the reports though Mayfield Heights Police contacted him and told him to stay away from her apartment complex Lundy has not been charged with a crime in Mayfield Heights He said the visits to her apartment were innocent “She was telling me she was home when she wasn’t home and I explained to her I would never do that,” Lundy said in an interview "I’ve done nothing but tried to help her over the years to make sure her mental state was OK.” Sims is seeking to have his conviction overturned and for an appeals court to order a new trial His attorney is arguing the failure to disclose Lundy’s relationship with Doe is a violation of Brady v Supreme Court case that requires prosecutors to turn over evidence favorable to the defense before trial defense attorneys are also entitled to information about witnesses that could undermine the credibility of their testimony In addition to Lundy’s relationship with Jane Doe Sims’ attorney also claims she uncovered details of discipline at several of Lundy’s previous employers that were not fully disclosed during his trial including the use of excessive force while serving as an officer at the Cuyahoga Hills Juvenile Correctional Facility; lying on his application with the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department; and failing a lie detector test administered by the Lucas County Sheriff’s Department following an allegation that he and another deputy exchanged food for sexual favors from a detainee Lundy downplayed the allegations regarding his former employment and said they were minor infractions “The allegations set forth in this petition are shocking but our office was thorough in verifying the truth of these claims,” said Kendall Corral “My client has spent nine years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit and this witness has suffered immeasurable harm.” Comment from Cuyahoga County Prosecutor spokesperson Alexandria Bauer: "The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office disclosed the incidents involving discipline of then Detective Lundy that the office was in possession of Those disclosed incidents were the subject of direct and cross-examination of Detective Lundy at trial The office was not in possession of any disciplinary information from CMHA With respect to the allegation that Lundy engaged in a sexual relationship before and during the trial with the State’s eyewitness there is no allegation or indication that the prosecutors assigned to the case were aware of that relationship When the office was made aware of the allegation earlier this month an investigator immediately spoke with now Chief Lundy who denied having any relationship with the witness before trial The allegation made in the defendant’s filing is serious and the office is diligently investigating it Because the State has not yet filed a response to the filing it would be premature to comment publicly any further.” The search for a missing father from Warren has ended in tragedy after the man's body was found in East Cleveland “It’s not safe anymore for people who are respectable We got older people on this street,” said East Cleveland resident after Acting Police Chief Ken Lundy said his officers found a dead body on Monday at an abandoned home on Chapman Avenue in East Cleveland "I just want them to take care of business Everybody thinks it’s a dumping ground,” said Gordon Even more disturbing is who Lundy said the medical examiner’s office revealed as the dead person “We did get confirmation from them that the body was identified as the missing person reported out of Warren OH as Juvar King,” said East Cleveland Acting Police Chief Ken Lundy RELATED: Warren father missing for weeks, kids want answers Lundy said 43-year-old Juvar King was reported missing on February 4th a vehicle belonging to one of King’s family members was found caught on fire in Cleveland that same day according to a press release from Cleveland Police Authorities eventually ruled the fire as an arson and arrested 28-year-old Nathaniel Crockett who was charged in connection to the vehicle’s fire in the 9300 block of Sherwood Road in Cleveland Lundy said Crockett has been released from custody But Commander Joseph Marche said they plan to bring Crockett in for questioning in King’s death which they do believe is a result of foul play We need to talk to the gentleman that had been arrested for the arson and we plan on doing all that as well as speaking with the medical examiner’s office to find out what the cause of death was,” said Commander Joseph Marche RELATED: Man accused of setting missing Warren man's car on fire arraigned Saturday Interim Mayor Sandra Morgan said she wants to clean up vacant properties and tear down abandoned homes and buildings “We will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law people who came to East Cleveland to dump but it also creates havens for people to do illicit things,” said Interim Mayor Sandra King Lundy asks anyone with information about the case to contact East Cleveland detectives at 216-681-2162 or Crime Stoppers at 216-252-7563 6 May 2025 12:22:45 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); Ohio — It will be up to a Cuyahoga County Probate Court judge to decide who takes over running the day-to-day operations of East Cleveland while Mayor Brandon King is suspended Presiding Judge Anthony Russo said Wednesday he will accept applications for King’s interim replacement until February 14 and then select an applicant for the position But who runs the city in the meantime is causing confusion East Cleveland’s city charter spells out two scenarios for succession to the mayor’s office depending on whether the absence is temporary or long-term the charter does not define what constitutes each Law Director Willa Hemmons told city department heads that she was acting mayor “The succession of a temporary absence of a mayor is first of all the finance director then the law director and then the director of public service,” said Hemmons we only have an interim finance director and I’m the law director But City Council President Lateek Shabazz disagreed Shabazz said King’s suspension following indictment on corruption charges is not a temporary absence “I heard that Willa said she’s the mayor,” said Shabazz or she’s the worst attorney the country has ever seen.” Shabazz believes there’s no acting mayor until a probate court judge names King’s replacement That person will come from a pool of applicants Something City Councilman Twon Billings calls heartbreaking “It speaks about the corruption in the City of East Cleveland that the court has to put together an application process of anybody who wants to be the mayor of the city,” said Billings Billings said he hasn’t decided if he’ll apply for the position Both Shabazz and Hemmons believe the court should appoint them as King’s replacement during the suspension it’s not clear what effect the situation could have on city business who’s pleaded not guilty to four felony and eight misdemeanor charges will remain suspended until his criminal case is resolved The mayor’s trial is scheduled to begin in late April CLEVELAND — The attorney for East Cleveland’s chief of staff said his client is innocent and believes Michael Smedley was duped by two brothers accused of bribing him Smedley pleaded not guilty to federal bribery and conspiracy charges Wednesday Prosecutors accused Smedley of using his job as chief of staff to East Cleveland’s mayor to help Muzzammil and Zubair Al Zubair perpetuate their schemes to defraud investors Investigators said Smedley accepted payments expensive meals and tickets to Browns games from the brothers in exchange for his help suggesting that the pair had political influence Prosecutors said that included Smedley appointing Zubair Al Zubair as East Cleveland’s international economic adviser – a title Al Zubair lists on his company’s website Smedley is also accused of providing Al Zubair with city business cards and giving both brothers East Cleveland police badges Federal prosecutors said the brothers used that appearance of political power to convince people to give them money for their schemes including millions of dollars for a cryptocurrency business that was supposed to move into Nela Park in East Cleveland right down to Zubair Al Zubair’s claim that he was royalty Smedley’s attorney believes his client was fooled he was told that they were some type of prince and they wanted to do some type of business in the area,” said attorney Charles Tyler “As a person who wanted to see the city grown he was interested in hearing what they had to say.” But Tyler denied Smedley accepting payments from the brothers or having a business relationship with the Al Zubairs “There are no signed contracts anybody can produce between my client and these brothers,” said Tyler the pair asked the judge for new attorneys and even said that The trial for Smedley and the brothers is scheduled to start in April East Cleveland’s law director placed Smedley on paid administrative leave last week following his indictment EAST CLEVELAND — A grand jury indicted East Cleveland’s Chief of Staff and Executive Assistant to the Mayor Smedley is accused of using his position to help two brothers defraud investigators out of millions of dollars Zubair Al Zubair and Muzzammil Al Zubair were indicted last year and accused of deceiving victims to get millions of dollars But now federal investigators say Smedley helped it happen The 56-year-old faces two counts of bribery: conspiracy to commit bribery conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right and tickets to Browns games from the brothers in exchange for helping the pair create the illusion they had important political connections Prosecutors said that included Smedley appointing Zubair Al Zubair who is accused of lying about being a member of the royal family of the United Arab Emirates as the city’s International Economic Advisor Smedley is also accused of providing Al Zubair with city business cards and giving the brothers City of East Cleveland police badges Prosecutors said the Al Zabair brothers used claims of political influence to then convince investors to give them money for various schemes between June 2020 and August 2023 investigators allege the pair claimed to control Nela Park and convinced a Chinese investor to pay the brothers $3 million and purchase another $6 million in equipment for a cryptocurrency mining business Federal prosecutors said the brothers even used the mayor’s office inside East Cleveland city hall for a ceremonial contract signing with the victim Smedley attended that ceremony along with East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King prosecutors said the entire business scheme was a fraud said she had no idea any city officials were tied to the scheme until she received a federal grand jury subpoena last March contracts and other records pertaining to the brothers and their businesses McCollough wondered Friday how much Smedley knew I would think he was conned as well,” said McCollough But East Cleveland City Councilman Twon Billings called that “enabler talk.” “There's no way in the world that he did not know what they were doing,” said Billings who warned this indictment may not be the last “Everybody keeps thinking there's no such thing as the boogeyman but now you see it's real,” said Billings who said he’s cooperating with federal investigators to clean up corruption in the city Smedley said he was looking for an attorney and wasn’t prepared to discuss the case The city placed him on paid administrative leave until his case is concluded Smedley is the latest city employee indicted in wide ranging investigations into East Cleveland government Mayor Brandon King is currently suspended from office and facing felony corruption charges RELATED: East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King indicted on multiple charges including former Police Chief Scott Gardner East Cleveland Police Chief Ken Lundy confirmed with News 5 via text that it appears a 15-year-old teenager sustained a self-inflicted gunshot as a result of an accident the death of the 15-year-old boy in East Cleveland Thursday evening has some like East Cleveland Council President Lateek Shabazz Even Councilman Twon Billings said he wants the community to find other solutions rather than using guns “You telling me that you can’t get control of that nobody can go to these guys and talk to these guys and say I got a better way for you.' Get them jobs show them it’s a different way,” said East Cleveland Councilman Twon Billings officers responded to the 1700 block of Elwood Road just after 7 p.m they found Alex Holloway had been shot in the jaw and had "no signs of life," Lundy said EMS transported the teen to a nearby hospital but I always say society has gotten used to these things and by them being used to these things Billings encouraged the community to step up and take accountability My bunkie said some things to me that offended the mess out of me but one thing I can say [is] it changed me,” said Billings Before Billings began serving on the East Cleveland City Council he said he was heavily involved in the street and gang life so now he wants to show the community it is possible to fight against the violence “I’m still the same person but with a different mindset and I would just say for society you have to have that same edge on you to say I want to be involved I want to help people change,” said Billings Lundy confirmed the investigation is now closed East Cleveland is without a mayor after a panel of judges suspended Brandon King from office while he faces corruption charges The city won't have a mayor until a probate court rules who will take the reins said City Council President Lateek Shabazz A special commission of three retired judges voted to suspend King It's the latest in a series of upheavals for the Cleveland suburb of roughly 13,000 people which was appointed by Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy found that King’s conduct “adversely affects the functioning of the office or adversely affects the rights and interests of the public In October, King was indicted in Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas for multiple counts of theft in office and having an improper interest in a public contract, both felonies, along with several misdemeanors According to state law Cuyahoga County Probate Court Presiding Judge Anthony Russo will appoint King’s replacement through the end of his suspension The court is accepting applications through Feb King’s indictment and suspension is the latest in a series of scandals in East Cleveland More than a dozen police officers have been convicted or face pending charges for misconduct including theft and excessive force while on duty Gerhard’s replacement, Kenneth Lundy, is now facing allegations of misconduct King’s line-item veto of a city council budget ordinance that defunded a lease East Cleveland made with Mr and which would have restored funding to said family business had the line-item veto not been overridden by the East Cleveland City Council constituted an act that adversely affected the rights and interests of the public and King should be suspended from office,” the commission wrote King attempted to reverse a city council decision to stop renting office space in a building owned by a company connected to his family City council reversed King’s line item veto in a dissent to the special commission’s decision criticized basing the suspension solely on that action State law requires a suspension be based on a pending felony charge that line-item veto was the basis for a misdemeanor charge of representation by a public official or employee ‘Having an Unlawful Interest in a Public Contract’ in violation of R.C which is the sole basis for the Commission’s suspension of Mr makes no mention of any line-item veto or any other specific acts or omissions committed by Mr The office space contract with a company connected to King started in 2008 — long before King joined city council or became mayor For residents who have been watching the chaos in city government play out for years, King's suspension provides a moment of confusion but also reflection, said Donté Gibbs, a 36-year-old resident, who organizes an annual gift exchange. but folks are energized as well," Gibbs said "Folks are eager for real and true information But East Cleveland's resilience is tried and true Terrell Graves gets 4 years for grandfather's death after emotional plea from grandmother in East Cleveland case.David Gambino Ohio - An East Cleveland man who pleaded guilty Tuesday to killing his grandfather was sentenced to four years in prison after family members asked for mercy was originally indicted by a Cuyahoga County grand jury on aggravated murder charges in the Oct shooting death of 67-year-old Ernest Rumph He also faced three-year firearm specifications and charges of murder and felonious assault Graves pleaded to a lesser offense of involuntary manslaughter with a one-year firearm specification His jury trial was set to begin Wednesday before Common Pleas Judge John Russo Court records show Graves was allowed a 15-minute courtroom visit with his grandmother and sister on Monday Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Tim Troup told Russo that the parties reached a resolution after “great consultation” with the victim’s wife and Graves’ grandmother Prosecutors and Graves’ defense attorneys agreed to recommend a four-to-eleven-year prison sentence Ernest Rumph discovered Graves had “smuggled” a woman into the basement of his East Cleveland home After Rumph told Graves the girl had to go Graves then shot his grandfather in the back of the head East Cleveland police responded to the home and transported Rumph to a local hospital Defense attorney Thomas Shaughnessy said the incident was “out of character” for both men He noted Rumph’s toxicology report showed traces of alcohol Troup invited Graves’ grandmother and sister to speak said she felt like she’s in the middle of a dream She said she loves both Graves and her late husband “He hasn’t got in any trouble or anything like that and I do believe that what happened was an accident or not intentional.” Rose Rumph asked Russo to have mercy on Graves She said she needed her grandson at home to help her with things “I just want my grandson to know that I love him “I hope that when he gets to where he’s going — don’t leave God here; take God with you.” Graves kept his head low as his grandmother spoke And I hope I get off soon so I can get back to you.” Shaughnessy asked Russo to sentence Graves on the lower end of the recommendation “I think we’d all agree that what we’ve seen here this morning is very unusual somewhat extraordinary and certainly tragic,” Shaughnessy said He said both prosecutors and the defense spent a lot of time with the victim’s family and were both working toward the same thing Russo cited Graves’ lack of criminal history and “obvious” remorse in handing down the minimum sentence He ordered Graves to serve four years at Lorain Correctional Institution with a mandatory minimum of two years of post-release control “Your grandma has given you some guidance,” he said “I can’t speak about that here on the record but I would follow the guidance that she has given you.” A jury found former East Cleveland police commander Larry McDonald guilty Thursday for lying about his role in two police pursuits McDonald was accused of initiating both chases including one that resulted in a man's death McDonald was indicted on charges including tampering with records obstructing official business and dereliction of duty in connection with the crash Jurors found McDonald guilty of felony charges of tampering with records telecommunications fraud and misdemeanor counts of dereliction of duty Prosecutors hammered McDonald during the trial pointing out that he didn't report the second chase and only returned to the scene after a fellow officer called and told him about the crash RELATED: Former East Cleveland commander denies lying to investigators about chases and crashes A Special Commission of three retired judges has made the decision to suspend East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King from office on Tuesday Following a December meeting with the Special Commission the retired judges found by a two-to-one vote that King's conduct had adversely affected the office and the public RELATED: Decision on suspension of East Cleveland's mayor could come soon King is facing a 12-count indictment on corruption charges and is accused of using his office to steer more than $76,000 of city money to businesses owned by King or his family According to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office King was charged in October with the following: RELATED: East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King indicted on multiple charges attorneys for East Cleveland's mayor and a former city councilman each blamed political opponents for the criminal indictments RELATED: East Cleveland mayor and former councilman blame politics for indictments King will retain the mayor's title and pay but cannot exercise any of the responsibilities of the office He can appeal the Commission's ruling to the Ohio Supreme Court King's attorney previously said his client would appeal if suspended According to East Cleveland's city charter the director of finance will serve as Acting Mayor if the mayor is "temporarily unable" to perform his or her duties In the event of a "long-term absence of the Mayor," the charter said the President of Council takes over the mayor's duties Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInEAST CLEVELAND Ohio (WOIO) - The East Cleveland Police Department is working to identify another suspect in the fatal shooting of a Strongsville man at a gas station Tuesday evening RELATED: Police looking for teen who fatally shot Strongsville man at East Cleveland gas station The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner identified the man as 45-year-old Maher Salti RELATED: Person shot and killed at gas station in East Cleveland Acting East Cleveland Police Chief Ken Lundy said the shooting happened around 6:30 p.m 11 at the gas station at Noble and Nelamere Roads According to a Friday release from East Cleveland Police investigators are seeking to identify a second suspect pictured below the East Cleveland Police said it was looking for Shaheed Rakin Mincy who is wanted for aggravated murder and aggravated robbery Detectives said Salti arrived at the location to sell an iPad the homicide remains under investigation and investigators are working to identify others involved in the death of Salti Ohio — There has been some confusion in East Cleveland on Thursday surrounding payroll issues This comes after News 5 received a tip saying that some city employees wouldn’t be getting paid on Friday and Council President Lateek Shabazz confirmed people would be getting paid after some officials said they were contacted “I got a phone call today from firefighters as well as city employees about [how] they may not be getting paid,” said East Cleveland Councilman Twon Billings According to an email News 5 received from city officials sent to them just after 1 p.m Ohio’s Office of Budget and Management had been working with East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King to understand if a temporary or permanent budget had been passed for fiscal year 2025 Based on the Office of Budget and Management’s response the state said they had not received a budget so no bills can be paid— including payroll That’s when Shabazz said he sent an email out to let workers know “I had sent it out because I was waiting on the mayor about something the council president says everything has been worked out Billings said he’s upset with the city’s dysfunction “I mean East Cleveland has always had its fair share of corruption The reason for the confusion in East Cleveland is due to Mayor Brandon King’s legal troubles which started this past October when a Cuyahoga County Grand Jury indicted him on 16 charges including theft in office and unlawful interest in a public contract “With the indictments and everything that’s going on in his personal life he’s taken that as taking up time for what he’s supposed to do,” said Billings I blame these judges that are supposed to make a decision on the mayor’s future