Newspaper, TV station go after patrol tape of Cronin arrest

Newspaper, TV station go after patrol tape of Cronin arrest

YOUNGSTOWN — She swayed. She staggered. She fell against a cruiser.

That’s how an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper described the actions of 54-year-old Maureen A. Cronin before the retired judge’s arrest for drunk driving.

A dashboard video camera likely recorded most, if not all the actions. The Vindicator and WFMJ-TV 21 are seeking a court’s release of the patrol tape.

A lawyer representing Cronin was successful in temporarily blocking release of the video, which was shot late Wednesday night on state Route 11 in Beaver Township.

Judge Scott D. Hunter, assigned to Mahoning County Area Court in Canfield, granted a motion filed by Youngstown attorney Scott R. Cochran to halt release of the video pending a hearing.

Cochran, in his motion to withhold the tape, said Cronin has a right to a jury pool that has not been “tainted with prior knowledge of the evidence in the case.” He requested two weeks to prepare briefs to support his argument.

Cochran told The Vindicator today that he doesn’t want the video viewed unless it is used in a hearing or at trial. He said he doesn’t know if his motion is the first of its kind in Mahoning County.

Cronin, who retired in July after 13 years as a Mahoning County common pleas judge, did not respond to a message seeking comment.

For the complete story, see Saturday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.