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Woman files lawsuit alleging misconduct by former Lowellville chief, law-enforcement agencies
By Sarah Lehr
LOWELLVILLE
A civil lawsuit pending in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court alleges misconduct by former Lowellville Police Chief Richard Jamrozik and several law-enforcement agencies.
Stacy Kello filed the lawsuit in June alleging that Jamrozik, her former live-in boyfriend, had assaulted her on multiple occasions. She also alleges the village, the city of Campbell and the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office violated her civil rights and engaged in a conspiracy to “protect fellow officer, Jamrozik, by not protecting a victim.”
The case is assigned to Judge Maureen Sweeney.
Jamrozik resigned as police chief in August 2016 after agreeing to a five-year civil-protection order filed by Kello.
Atty. John Zomoida, who is representing Jamrozik, said the protection order will not affect the lawsuit’s outcome. Zomoida added he anticipates the claims against his client will be quickly dismissed. “Mr. Jamrozik strongly believes that Ms. Kello’s complaints have no basis,” he said.
Jamrozik was sworn in as Lowellville’s full-time police chief in November 2015. He previously worked as a coroner’s investigator for the sheriff’s office from 2002 to 2015.
The lawsuit alleges Jamrozik “physically, emotionally and mentally abused” Kello.
Kello requests a jury trial, as well as more than $50,000 in damages. Her attorney, Jennifer Robbins, did not return requests to comment.
Kello alleges Jamrozik pushed her down the stairs in January 2015, locked her out of their Campbell home and took her phone so she would not be able to call 911. In July 2015, the lawsuit alleges, Jamrozik beat Kello with his fists and a golf club before forcing her out of a Mahoning County Coroner’s Office vehicle.
In October 2015, the lawsuit alleges, Jamrozik hit Kello in the face with a ceramic plate and again took her phone so she could not call for help. In November 2015, the lawsuit says, Jamrozik took her phone and car keys and beat her until she became unconscious.
Kello spoke with members of the Campbell Police Department on July 8, 2016, about Jamzrozik’s actions. The police department released the report from that meeting to The Vindicator but redacted the narrative, citing an ongoing investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The bureau, a division of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, has been investigating Jamrozik since May 2016.
The lawsuit states Andrew Rauzan, who was Campbell police chief until November 2016, was “notified” in November 2015 that Kello wished to file criminal charges against Jamrozik. The lawsuit names Rauzan, Campbell Mayor Nick Phillips and three Campbell police officers for not “protecting Kello, arresting Jamrozik, properly investigating and preserving evidence in the case.” An unidentified Campbell police officer also is listed as a defendant.
Atty. Gregory Beck, representing Campbell, did not return requests to comment.
Kello accuses the city of Campbell, the village of Lowellville and the sheriff’s office of negligent hiring and employee retention. It states they did not intervene when Jamrozik used “excessive force.” Also named are county Sheriff Jerry Greene and a major for the sheriff’s office.
“As it concerns the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, the accusations are completely ridiculous,” Greene said.
Lowellville Mayor James Iudiciani, who is named in the lawsuit, said the village denies the allegations. Lowellville Solicitor Atty. James E. Lanzo and Atty. Kenneth Calderone, who is assigned to represent the village, did not respond to requests to comment.