MANSFIELD — Former Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Preston Brooks, of the Mansfield Post, was found not guilty of all charges this week following a three-day trial.
Brooks, 32, of Arlington, was indicted Dec. 9 for Theft of Dangerous Drugs and Tampering with Evidence.
“Mr. Brooks is grateful for the support of his former colleagues from The Patrol who had the courage to testify truthfully on his behalf,” his defense team stated in a press release.
The trial took place before Judge Brent Robinson in Richland County Common Pleas Court. The jury found Brooks not guilty of all charges in less than two hours, according to the press release.
Brooks was represented by Sam Shamansky and Colin Peters.
Jodie Schumacher of the Richland County Prosecutor’s Office presented the case for the State of Ohio.
Brooks was originally charged with three felonies after an internal investigation into missing drugs seized at a car stop.
According to a Dec. 27 termination letter from the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Brooks was fired for violating the OSHP rules and regulations regarding false statements, truthfulness and conduct unbecoming of an officer.
“…It was found that you mishandled seized prescription drugs and were untruthful when asked about their whereabouts,” according to the letter, signed by the Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Thomas J. Stickrath.
The traffic stop took place on Nov. 1 at about 6 p.m. on Possum Run Road in Washington Township, according to the incident report. The missing drugs were reported on Nov. 4.
The report states the drugs were narcotics or illegal drugs, excluding marijuana. According to the incident summary, the vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation and the driver was arrested for OVI and child endangering. A probable cause search of the suspects’ purse revealed suspected drugs.
“Brooks was innocent all along and the only crime that was committed was that he was indicted,” Shamasky told the Mansfield News Journal in a story published on Friday. “After his (Brooks’) firing he picked up the pieces and has been gainfully employed ever since.
“He’s super grateful and thankful and ready to move on.”
