CORTLAND Police find another mailbox hit by officer

The report states that the owner of the mailbox found a piece of a vehicle in her front yard.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HOWLAND -- A Cortland police car damaged a mailbox here the same night it crashed into several mailboxes in Bazetta Township.
According to a Howland police report, officials believe a cruiser driven by Cortland Police Capt. Stan Lancey hit a mailbox at 498 Niles-Cortland Road S.E. early March 31 while Lancey was on duty. That address is near state Route 82.
The report states that the owner of the mailbox found a piece of a Ford vehicle in her front yard. A Howland officer took the piece to Cortland City Police Department and matched it with the cruiser.
"It was a perfect match," said Cortland Police Chief Gary Mink. "I have no idea why Capt. Lancey was in Howland. There was no call for assistance from Howland. He shouldn't have been outside of the city limits."
Lancey is on sick leave and could not be reached to comment.
Arrest
Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers arrested him around 4 a.m. March 31 after he was in a one-car crash on state Route 46 in Bazetta Township. The OSHP report states Lancey's cruiser hit three mailboxes. He was on duty.
Stemming from that arrest, Lancey pleaded innocent Monday to a charge that he was operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
The Howland report on the mailbox has been sent to OSHP, Mink said.
After his arrest, Lancey submitted a urine test that has been sent to the state lab for analysis, Mink said.
Mink said that after he receives the test results, he will decide whether the veteran officer should face discipline. In November 2004, Lancey received a written reprimand after the police chief found an open container of whiskey inside Lancey's cruiser.
sinkovich@vindy.com