GALION — A veteran Galion police officer will return to work later this week after pleading guilty to dereliction of duty.
John Bourne, who has been on the force for seven years, pleaded guilty Thursday in Crawford County Municipal Court. He received a suspended 30-day jail sentence, was placed on non-reporting probation and ordered to pay court costs.
He pleaded guilty as charged to a fourth-degree misdemeanor.
Bourne was accused of stealing money from a resident during an arrest. He has been on paid administrative leave since Aug. 14.
On Aug. 4, Bourne and his partner, Officer Andrew Knee, went to a residence in the 300 block of Grove looking for a man wanted on a warrant. They contacted a 42-year-old man who was acting suspiciously, according to the police report.
When Bourne approached the man, he became “fidgety,” ran inside and admitted flushing an eighth of an ounce of marijuana down the toilet, police said.
Bourne arrested the man on charges of tampering with evidence and obstructing official business and seized more than $700 from him.
The next day, the Crawford County Prosecutor’s Office said it would not be charging the man and advised police to release him and return his property.
“(The prosecutor’s office) said the officer didn’t have reason to go into the house,” Galion police Chief Brian Saterfield previously told the News Journal.
The man was released Aug. 5, but didn’t get his property back until Aug. 13. He alleged that not all of his money had been returned and that he believed Bourne stole it.
While the man never made a formal, written complaint, Bourne was placed on paid leave.
Saterfield said Bourne probably would return to work Friday.
“It’s pretty much resolved,” the chief said.
Saterfield said he had no qualms about Bourne coming back to work. He declined further comment.
Bucyrus Law Director Robert Ratliff said he did not know if Bourne took any money and explained the charge.
“It’s essentially a negligent charge,” Ratliff said. “This seemed like the proper resolution.”