Cities discuss ‘settlement framework’ with sheriff’s office in lawsuit over funds

Portage County Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski at a meeting in 2021 called for spending reforms that would add $2.9 million to the office’s budget over three years. Michael Indriolo/The Portager

Cities discuss ‘settlement framework’ with sheriff’s office in lawsuit over funds

- Wendy DiAlesandro

Almost a year ago, three Portage County cities sued Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski for allegedly keeping money he should have distributed when the Portage County Drug Task Force disbanded in 2021. Today the case remains in pretrial stages.

The cities of Kent, Ravenna and Streetsboro sued the county and Zuchowski on Nov. 9, 2023. The latest court filings indicate that the parties’ attorneys (the law directors for the respective cities and the county prosecutor’s office) discussed what court filings called a “settlement framework” during a Sept. 12 pretrial conference.

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