Ohio inspector general: No cover-up in officers’ cases

COLUMBUS (AP) — The state watchdog has found no cover-up by state police in their handling of the cases of two law enforcement officers ticketed for driving their motorcycles nearly 150 mph on a highway.

State Inspector General Tom Charles also says the patrol was not influenced by intense media scrutiny of the cases.

Christopher Thomas, a police officer in the Columbus suburb of Gahanna, was clocked June 28 going 149 mph on Interstate 70 east of Columbus. The speed limit is 65 mph. Thomas has pleaded guilty to speeding and publicly apologized.

Off-duty state trooper Jason Highsmith also was ticketed and has pleaded not guilty to speeding.

Highsmith didn’t receive his ticket until July 2, and Thomas’ was issued July 6, raising questions about a possible cover-up.