Trumbull jail officer innocent of firing gun

December 12, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

The charge did not affect his status as a Trumbull County Jail corrections officer.

STAFF REPORT

NEWTON FALLS — Judge Phil Vigorito found Timothy Billock innocent of a misdemeanor charge of discharging a firearm in the city limits, after a half-day trial Thursday in Newton Falls Municipal Court.

Newton Falls police had charged Billock, 43, with the offense after Billock had a run-in with a motorist driving up Billock’s street in Newton Falls on July 15.

Billock was taking out the trash when a car came speeding up the street with its headlights off at about 10:45 p.m. Billock showed the motorist his badge, identified himself as a deputy sheriff and told the driver to turn on his headlights, according to a police report.

After the driver yelled obscenities at Billock, the deputy extended his hand a second time and told the driver to turn on his lights, but the driver instead reached for Billock’s hand and started to drive away, dragging him, Billock told police.

Billock said he fired his gun to get the driver to let go, but Newton Falls Police Chief John M. Kuivila said it was difficult to believe Billock’s description of events because Billock had no marks on his arm indicating that he had been dragged.

Billock has worked as a corrections officer at the Trumbull County Jail for 15 years and is a commissioned police officer. Don Guarino, chief deputy with the sheriff’s office, ordered Billock to turn in his commission as a law-enforcement officer and his badge after Billock was charged.

Billock’s commission as a police officer allows him to work side-jobs and as a reserve deputy, Guarino said. Billock’s job status with the jail was not affected by the charge, Guarino said.

Major Tom Stewart of the sheriff’s office conducted an internal-affairs investigation of the incident and turned over that information to Sheriff Tom Altiere, who has not decided yet whether to take any action against Billock, Stewart said.

So far, Billock has not had his commission and badge returned, Stewart said.