Fired worker suing Poland Twp.

YOUNGSTOWN

A former Poland Township Road Department employee claims he was the target of defamation, malicious prosecution and wrongful termination.

Raymond Beatty claims the township continued to pursue charges against him for the alleged theft of “road grindings” after the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s office said his conduct did not rise to the level of a criminal offense, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Last August, township Trustee Eric Ungaro reported an anonymous tip to police that accused Beatty of taking “an unknown amount of road grindings” from the road department building to his home, according to a police report.

Road grindings result from the paving process, and they can be used as a substitute for gravel.

Poland Township police eventually charged Beatty with a misdemeanor. He pleaded not guilty and prosecutors later dismissed the case.

Despite that, Beatty lost his job.

Read more about the matter in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.