Courtesy of The Crestline Advocate
Following a months-long investigation, Crestline police officer Mark Callicoat was indicted this week by a Crawford County Grand Jury. The investigation was conducted by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification.
Callicoat was indicted on misdemeanor charges of dereliction of duty and making false statements and a felony charge of bribery. The investigation developed after complaints on social media surfaced.
Callicoat was placed on administrative leave on Monday, the day of the indictments.
Police Chief Joseph Butler issued the following statement Tuesday:
Immediately upon receipt of notice of the Crawford County, Ohio Grand Jury’s decision to indict Officer Mark Callicoat on three charges of: bribery (F3), falsification (M1), and dereliction of duty (M2). Officer Callicoat was immediately relieved of his duties as a police officer.
He was indicted on these charges following an investigation by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation of the State of Ohio initiated at the official request of the Crestline Police Department and the Crawford County Prosecutor’s Office. This department will continue to cooperate with the Special Prosecutor.
Officer Callicoat’s leave of his duties will be for the duration of the prosecution on these indictments. A hearing for his placement on unpaid leave has been scheduled by my department.
Maintaining the trust of our community is the focus of my administration.
More on this story can be found in the latest edition of The Crestline Advocate.