A former Toledo police lieutenant was indicted Thursday on charges including felonious assault for his alleged involvement in a plot to shoot a woman who testified at trial.
Frank Ramirez, 58, also Thursday submitted his retirement request after 31 years with the department. The retirement is effective Feb. 11, police Lt. Jeff Gorney said.
A Lucas County grand jury indicted Mr. Ramirez on charges of felonious assault with a firearm specification, tampering with evidence, and obstructing justice.
Maytee Vazquez-Clarke, 44, who previously was indicted on a charge of obstructing justice in the same case, also was indicted Thursday for felonious assault with a firearm specification.
No court dates have been set, although Ms. Vazquez-Clarke and her husband, John Clarke, 45, are scheduled to have a pretrial hearing Wednesday before Common Pleas Judge Gene Zmuda.
If convicted, Mr. Ramirez faces up to eight years in prison for felonious assault, three years for the firearm specification, and up to three years on both the obstructing and tampering charges.
Tiffany Williams was shot at Dec. 26 in the 1300 block of Colburn Avenue. She previously testified during the murder trials of Samuel Williams, who is not a relative of Ms. Williams, and Cameo Pettaway. They were accused in the 2011 killings of Johnny Clarke and Lisa Straub in Springfield Township, and Williams was convicted.
Police arrested Johnny Clarke’s parents, Ms. Vazquez-Clarke and Mr. Clarke, after the shooting. The elder Clarke was charged with felonious assault for allegedly firing twice at Ms. Williams.
Police alleged in a court affidavit that Mr. Ramirez further directed another person to delete evidence of the crime and his involvement.
Mr. Ramirez joined the police department in 1983 and became lieutenant in 1991. He was arrested Feb. 11 and released from jail on a $100,000 surety bond.
Active members of the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund with more than 25 years of service still receive a pension if convicted of a felony, said Dave Graham, spokesman for the agency.
A court could order restitution against the funds, he said.
Mr. Ramirez received $88,674 in base pay and about $8,300 in overtime last year.
Staff writer Jennifer Feehan contributed to this report.
Contact Ryan Dunn at: rdunn@theblade.com, 419-724-6103, or on Twitter @RDunnBlade.
First Published February 20, 2015, 5:00 a.m.
