Pubdate: Thu, 30 Aug 2007 Source: Beaver County Times, The (PA) Copyright: 2007 Beaver County Times Contact: http://www.timesonline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2449 Author: Mark E. Crepp, Calkins Media Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) LAWSUIT MAY BE NEXT IN ELLWOOD CITY RIFT ELLWOOD CITY - Accusations continue to fly in the battle between Ellwood City Mayor Don Clyde and borough council over management of Police Chief Richard McDonald, and the matter could soon be headed to court. On Thursday, one day after a closed-door meeting with four council members to try to resolve the dispute, Clyde denied accusations made against him, including that he interfered in a drug arrest, and made accusations of his own that McDonald overstepped his authority. He also announced a plan to sue the borough to regain power council has stripped of him. Glenn Jones, council president, said Wednesday that charges had to be dropped against a drug suspect because the mayor tampered with evidence. He softened it Thursday to say the mayor possibly invalidated a search warrant, saying an attorney for the female suspect, who was not identified, said he saw Clyde opening cupboard doors looking for evidence during a search last summer. He said the mayor does not have the authority to participate in a police search, which means any evidence gathered could be ruled inadmissible. Clyde responded that he was present when marijuana plants were located and that all he did was watch the front door at the request of an officer while that officer watched the back door. At the time, Clyde said, a second officer was in the process of obtaining a search warrant for the house. Clyde said he was in the house while it was searched, but he denied participating. Jones, who was in the closed-door meeting with council members Anthony "Lefty" DeCarbo, a former borough police officer; Tony Court and George Celli; Clyde; borough solicitor Edward Leymarie Jr.; and Clyde's attorney, Thomas Leslie, also accused Clyde of trying to keep McDonald from obtaining his police officer's identification number from the Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Center, which is used to certify him. Clyde denied interceding and accused Jones of "having problems with the truth." Clyde said he did contact the training center to ask about the status of McDonald's identification number, which he said he has the right to do under the state's borough code. Clyde said he made the call because he wondered why a number was not assigned after McDonald took the certification exam in July. He said this is an issue because of "liabilities and legalities" of McDonald performing duties of a police officer without being certified. Clyde said the center told him McDonald should not be involved with the interrogation of prisoners and with interviewing juveniles or be involved with juvenile records. He said the center also told him the chief should not be operating a police cruiser with the lights and siren on, which Clyde said he has been observed doing. Another point made by the center, according to Clyde, was that McDonald should not wear a uniform, which he does not. McDonald could not be reached for comment Thursday. According to Clyde, Jones took the attitude that Clyde should not be checking on the chief's identification number and that council does not want to lose McDonald as chief and doesn't want the mayor to have anything to do with possibly causing him to leave. "It amazes me ... they are trying to strip me of my power," Clyde said, even though he noted he and council have had their differences since he took office a year and a half ago. Clyde said he has no problem with McDonald, but he plans to go to court to clarify his duties as spelled out in the borough code. "It's a shame the good people of Ellwood will have to pay the legal expenses" he said, adding it will be "costly to pursue" the case. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman