Bethel’s former police chief has filed a complaint in federal court against the village and its mayor alleging a smear campaign against him that forced his resignation in March.
Former Bethel police chief files lawsuit against mayor
Former Bethel police chief files lawsuit against mayor By Jared Goffinet | May 12, 2021 at 3:17 PM EDT - Updated May 12 at 4:58 PM
BETHEL, Ohio (FOX19) - Former Bethel Police Chief Steve Teague filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Mayor Jay Noble, claiming that his rights were violated in the fallout from Black Lives Matter protests in the village in June 2020.
Teague was put on paid administrative leave after an independent review of the protests found the department was overwhelmed and that the chief should have sought help from nearby law enforcement agencies.
The lawsuit paints a different picture, however.
The mayor of Bethel, Ohio, dropped his campaign to fire the village police chief Monday after arguing for more than a month he was unfit for the job.
In a memo to Police Chief Steve Teague, Mayor Jay Noble said he was withdrawing the administrative charges he filed against the chief in early February and would instead issue him a written reprimand. He said Teague, who has been on paid leave for weeks, could return to work as early as Tuesday.
Noble could not be reached for comment. Teague s attorney, Kelly Lundrigan, provided a copy of the mayor s memo but did not respond to questions about it.
Bethel Police Chief can return to work after being placed on leave, independent audit of department wcpo.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wcpo.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Mayor attempts ouster of Bethel police chief over summer protests
Bethel mayor files administrative charges against police chief By Trevor Peters | February 18, 2021 at 10:56 PM EST - Updated February 18 at 11:00 PM
BETHEL, Ohio (FOX19) - The mayor of Bethel has filed administrative charges against the villageâs police chief.
The mayor faults the police chief for not doing a good job during last summerâs protest. The chief responded the mayor is using him as a âscapegoat.â
According to Bethel Police Chief Steve Teagueâs lawyers, Mayor Jay Noble has filed 11 administrative charges against the chief over the unrest.
Teagueâs attorneys say they do not know the reason Mayor Jay Noble is trying to remove Teague.