Newton Falls mayor's case headed to grand jury

NEWTON FALLS

A visiting judge has ruled there’s sufficient evidence to send to a Trumbull County grand jury a charge that Mayor Pat Layshock disrupted public services Jan. 14 by refusing to get out of the way of a Newton Falls ambulance.

At the end of a preliminary hearing in Newton Falls Municipal Court that included testimony from Layshock and two ambulance workers Thursday, Judge Barbara Watson said a grand jury will next hear evidence regarding charges that Layshock committed a felony punishable by up to 18 months in prison.

While testifying, Layshock, who won a court case against the city last year that allowed him to rescind his resignation as mayor, said the charge appears to be politically motivated.

Layshock, who returned as mayor in November, was formally charged with the offense by Atty. Robert Johnson, assigned to serve as special prosecutor.

Deputies with the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Department investigated the incident, which took place at the corner of Broad and Canal

streets downtown.

Firefighter paramedic Luke Grunder testified that he and fellow firefighter paramedic Jacqueline Dick were responding to a 911 call when he drove the ambulance to the intersection and had to stop for Layshock’s car.

Grunder said he motioned for Layshock to move out of the intersection because there wasn’t enough room to drive around.

But from 7 to 10 feet away, Grunder watched as Layshock shook his head “no” and motioned for the ambulance to go around him.

Grunder added, “I would say it was a cocky no — you go around.”

After each man motioned for the other to move two more times, Layshock could be seen cursing at Grunder and then pulling forward, Grunder said.

Dick’s testimony was essentially the same.

For the full story, read Friday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.