Chief of police faces charges

The Dairy Queen owner says the police chief ran into him twice with his car.
& lt;a href=mailto:yovich@vindy.com & gt;By TIM YOVICH & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Police Chief Anthony Ross will be arraigned May 13 in municipal court on two criminal charges filed by a local businessman.
Ross, who goes by "Buster," was charged last week with assault, a misdemeanor, and intimidation, a felony.
If convicted, Ross, 78, faces a maximum 5 1/2 years in prison and $11,000 in fines. He has been a member of the department for 49 years.
Ross is on vacation and couldn't be reached.
The charges were filed by Robert E. Suich, owner of the Dairy Queen at 201 S. State St.
What affidavit says
In an affidavit filed with the court to support the charges, Suich said he was working when he noticed two cars in his parking lot.
He said Ross was arguing with the driver of the other car, Dave McGearry, then drove off to a gas station down the street.
In his affidavit, Suich described how he went into the parking lot to see what was happening and to tell McGearry that Ross was still watching him.
Suich said that when the chief returned to the Dairy Queen parking lot in his car, he turned and took a couple steps to go back inside his business and that's when he ended up on the hood of the chief's car.
Suich said he got off the hood and asked the chief what he was doing.
"You can't hit people with your car," Suich wrote that he told the chief. "What's the matter with you? You just can't move people with your car."
Suich said Ross took his foot off the brake and the car struck him again, this time on the knee.
Suich said he sarcastically asked Ross if wanted to go and get a beer with him. Ross, according to the affidavit, responded, "I'll get you. If not now, when I retire."
Mayor's stance
Mayor James A. Melfi said he won't take any action against Ross, who has been chief for 28 years, until the case is resolved.
If the chief is found guilty, the mayor said, he'll "take the appropriate action."
Ross and the city have been at odds in recent years.
Last year, he and the city settled a harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed in federal court on his behalf by the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission.
In April 1998, the city successfully defended itself against a federal age discrimination case filed by Ross, who said he was subjected to a hostile workplace because he wouldn't retire.
In 1999, Ross pleaded no contest and was found guilty of driving under the influence and reckless operation. He was fined $300 and lost his driver's license for six months.
He was also suspended for 10 days by then-Mayor Vincent Schuyler.
That same year, he was suspended for three days for conducting personal business during the workday.
& lt;a href=mailto:yovich@vindy.com & gt;yovich@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;