Village police chief charged with obstruction of justice

Associated

GLOUSTER, Ohio

A village police chief arrested on obstruction of justice charges helped a woman wanted by authorities avoid arrest and allowed her to stay at his house, a prosecutor said.

Glouster Chief Luke Mace was arrested Friday, and a search warrant was executed at the Glouster Police Department that evening with the cooperation of the mayor’s office, said Athens County Prosecutor Attorney Keller Blackburn.

The charges are related to a woman who had warrants out for her arrest in Perry ad Athens counties, Blackburn told The Athens Messenger.

It wasn’t immediately clear if Mace had an attorney. There was no telephone listing for Mace in the village.

Mace met with the woman — knowing that she was wanted by authorities — and should have arrested her, but instead he took her out to dinner Thursday and then allowed her to stay at his house, Blackburn said.

The police chief also knew that the sheriff’s office and prosecutor’s office were looking for the woman the next day and warned her while also giving authorities misleading information, Blackburn said.

The obstruction of justice charges are both fifth-degree felony counts.

Blackburn did not identify the woman. She was later taken into custody on a probation violation warrant from Perry County and a drug-related warrant from Athens County.