Pubdate: Fri, 28 Jan 2005
Source: News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Copyright: 2005 The News-Herald
Contact:  http://www.news-herald.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/305
Author: Scott Heasley, Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)

CORRECTIONS OFFICER CHARGED

Lake County Jail Official Accused Of Trying To Buy Crack

A veteran Lake County Jail corrections officer was arraigned Thursday on 
felony drug and weapons charges after being accused of buying crack from 
undercover agents in Geneva Township.

Walter K. Toll Jr., 47, of Painesville Township, was isolated from other 
inmates before being released Thursday after posting a $5,000 personal 
recognizance bond.

Toll has been charged with possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, and 
fourth-degree felony carrying a concealed weapon because he took an 
unlicensed gun to the drug deal, Lake County Sheriff Daniel A. Dunlap said.

Dunlap said Toll purchased a small amount of drugs Wednesday afternoon. 
Toll is accused of carrying a Charter Arms .38-caliber revolver, according 
to court records.

The sheriff said the deal took place near the state Route 534 exit off 
Interstate 90. Lake County deputy sheriffs arrested Toll without incident 
after the deal was completed, Dunlap said.

Dunlap said authorities found out about the drug deal from a confidential 
informant.

He said Toll has been placed on administrative leave.

"He'll have an administrative hearing within five days. We will be asking 
for his job," the sheriff said.

Dunlap said Toll was hired Aug. 26, 1991, and has not had any other 
employment problems of note.

The sheriff does not think there is a drug problem at his jail. But he said 
it is important to act quickly when information is brought to his attention.

"We have to clean our own house," Dunlap said. "We can ill afford to let 
one or two people besmirch the reputation of the 100 other corrections 
officers that work here.

"As soon as we get information about something like this, we pursue it."

The sheriff said a hearing officer from outside the department will hear 
the administrative case involving Toll.

Chief Deputy William E. Crosier said new employees undergo a medical exam 
before they are hired, but that does not include a drug test.

"We rely on a voice stress analysis to determine if they are involved in 
any kind of drug activity," Crosier said, adding that the test is as 
reliable as a lie detector.

Crosier said employees do not undergo drug testing after they are hired.

"We would have to negotiate it with our labor unions, and certainly, it's 
something we would take a look at," he said.

Grand River Mayor Christopher W. Conley, who works as a corrections officer 
at the jail, railed against the media when asked to comment on Toll's case.

"Leave him alone," he said.

When reached at his residence Thursday, Toll said he had no comment on the 
case.

This is the second high-profile criminal case in the last six months 
involving one of Dunlap's employees.

Lt. Earl Tate Jr., 46, of Concord Township, was arraigned in September on 
federal bank fraud charges.

Tate pleaded innocent to the charges, which accuse him of artificially 
inflating one of his private bank accounts by $154,840.

Tate is free on bond and was placed on administrative leave while his case 
is pending. He is due to stand trial Feb. 28.

Toll's preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 8.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager