Scientist at YSU placed on leave after dispute over lab machine

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — A chemistry scientist employed at Youngstown State University has been placed on paid administrative leave after a dispute with another university employee.

A university spokesman said Matthias Zeller, 37, an instrumentation scientist in the chemistry department, will be on leave pending an internal investigation.

Another department employee, Raymond Hoff, 48, an instrumentation service specialist, accused Zeller of injuring his arm during a confrontation in a YSU laboratory April 21.

Hoff called YSU police to the lab to file a complaint, and officers said Hoff’s arm had visible scratches and redness.

The dispute arose, Hoff told police, when he witnessed Zeller making what he said was an unauthorized use of a piece of X-ray equipment in the lab. Hoff said he went into the lab and tried to remove the override key that Zeller was using to access the machine and that Zeller grabbed and injured his arm.

Zeller told police that he instinctively grabbed Hoff’s arm when he reached for the key.

City Prosecutor Jay Macejko reviewed the complaint but declined to file charges against Zeller, saying the circumstances didn’t rise to the level of an assault.

Being placed on administrative leave means Zeller is barred from campus pending the results of the investigation.