A longtime Toledo police officer accused of taking part in a plan to murder a woman was acquitted by a jury on the most serious charges today, although the jury found him guilty of tampering with evidence, discharging a firearm over a roadway and obstructing justice.
Frank Ramirez, 60, of the 5900 block of Tetherwood Drive, was acquitted of attempted murder and felonious assault in connection with the shooting of Tiffany Williams by John Clarke on Dec. 26, 2014.
The Lucas County Common Pleas Court jury deliberated about six hours before announcing its verdict. He is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 19.
Prosecutors had alleged Ramirez made arrangements for Ms. Williams to be at an address on Colburn Avenue at a certain time on that date then gave that information to Clarke, who fired shots at her. She was not struck but testified that she felt a bullet fly by her ear and another graze her leg.
Clarke, 46, of 400 block of Danberry Street, previously entered an Alford plea – not admitting guilt – to felonious assault for the incident. Prosecutors said he fired two shots at Ms. Williams in a failed murder attempt, but Clarke claimed he fired once in the air simply to scare her.
Prosecutors alleged Ramirez helped the Clarkes “hunt” Ms. Williams, who was the last person to speak to their son, Johnny Clarke, before he was murdered along with his girlfriend, Lisa Straub, in a Springfield Township home in 2011.
Text messages exchanged between Clarke's wife, Maytee Vazquez-Clarke, and Ramirez imply she wanted Ms. Williams killed. She testified that she only wanted Ms. Williams and others with knowledge of her son's murder to be arrested so that they would tell investigators what they knew about the slayings.
Vazquez-Clarke, 45, previously entered an Alford plea to retaliation for her part.
Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Gene Zmuda had planned to sentence the Clarkes this morning, but continued the hearing until Sept. 19 at the request of prosecutors and attorneys for the pair.
“We're doing that because we only want to do this once so to minimize any potential adverse consequence, we will continue your sentencings,” he said.
First Published September 7, 2016, 6:24 p.m.
