TRUMBULL COUNTY Police officer pleads guilty

By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A part-time Howland Township police officer involved in a fatal crash has pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges.
Timothy Albu entered the pleas to charges of vehicular homicide and reckless assault Tuesday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.
Judge Andrew Logan said Albu, who remains free on a $5,000 bond, will be sentenced after a background check is completed by the county adult probation department.
Ken Bailey, an assistant county prosecutor, said Albu could receive probation or up to a year in jail. He also faces a possible $2,000 fine and having his driver's license suspended for a year.
Steve Lamantia, Howland police chief, said Albu has not worked for his department since the crash.
"This is tragic for all involved," Lamantia said. "Our hearts go out to all the victims and their family."
Lamantia said he did not know if Albu will return to the department.
Albu was southbound on Ridge Road in response to a nonemergency call shortly after 8 p.m. Nov. 10 when his police car crossed the center line and struck a car driven by Chad W. Mitchell, 23, of Niles, according to an Ohio State Highway Patrol report.
Mitchell and one passenger, Cammie R. Kosak, 19, of Niles, were treated at St. Joseph Health Center in Warren.
The other passenger, Delbert Lambert, 47, of Niles, died from injuries.
According to the report, Albu's speed was a factor in the accident.
The exact speed had not been determined, but Albu told the patrol he thought he was going 50 mph.
The speed limit on the section of Ridge Road where the crash occurred is 25 mph. Albu was not hurt.
sinkovich@vindy.com