News

A former Bolivar police officer and the owner of a Strasburg gun shop have been indicted by a Tuscarawas County grand jury for their alleged involvement in a scheme related to the purchase of ammunition. Officer Jeffery Stearns, currently employed by the Village of Sugarcreek, and Grant Timberlake, the owner of G&R Tactical, both face multiple felony charges including unlawful transfer of weapons, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, theft, telecommunications fraud, falsification in a theft offense, and complicity.

The investigation was initiated in February 2022 by the Auditor of State’s Special Investigation Unit (SIU) after receiving information about an officer using Bolivar’s tax-exempt status and law enforcement discounts to purchase ammunition. It was discovered that Stearns falsified documents during the COVID-19 pandemic to facilitate the purchase of ammunition, claiming it was for the Bolivar Police Department. However, the ammunition was picked up by Timberlake, and the Bolivar department had no knowledge of these transactions and did not receive any ammunition for its officers.

Stearns has been placed on unpaid administrative leave by the Sugarcreek Police Department, where he joined in June 2021. Sugarcreek Police Chief Kevin Kaser emphasized that this indictment has no connection to the Village of Sugarcreek and stated, “No crimes occurred here.” Chief Kaser also mentioned that Stearns had no issues during his employment with the department.

The indictments were filed in Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court, and arraignments are scheduled for September 20. The charges against Stearns also include additional counts of tampering with records and money laundering, along with a misdemeanor charge of representation by a public official.

It is important to note that the information provided in this article has been rewritten and reformatted, removing personal and contact information as well as sources of information and quotes from the original piece.

The post New Philadelphia Police Officer and Gun Shop Owner Indicted in Ammo Purchasing Scheme appeared first on ISP Today.