Shane French, host of “Rover’s Morning Glory” on the CCME Cleveland Rocker is facing more than a dozen felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from an altercation with an off-duty police officer in July at the Whiskey Island Marina.
A grand jury indicted French, 38, on charges including inducing panic, assault, criminal damaging and resisting arrest. Police said French, who was partying at the marina, aimed fireworks at the off-duty officer and then shoved him and ran away in an effort to avoid being arrested.
French’s sidekick, Michael Toomey, a.k.a. “Chocolate Charlie,” faces 11 charges. According to the indictment, a boat and an SUV were damaged. Both men are set to be arraigned on 10/16, reports Cleveland.com.
Police said the incident occurred at 3:40 a.m. near Olde River Yacht Club.
Off-duty officer Steven Kinas told police he was on his boat, saw fireworks and found French and another man “highly intoxicated.” They refused to stop shooting fireworks, Kinas told officers, and instead shot fireworks in his direction.
Shortly after his arrest, French spoke about the incident on his show, saying he could not discuss the factual details. He went on to call the allegations “absolutely absurd, ridiculous and not based in fact whatsoever.”
“In fact, if these charges weren’t so serious, it would be comical. But it is very serious and I’m taking the matter very seriously,” he said.
French said his attorneys had possession of surveillance video and had interviewed eyewitnesses in the case: “I will tell you with 100 percent certainty that when all of these facts are brought to light that I will prevail in this matter and the truth will come out,” he said. “After that happens, I will take steps to make sure that this doesn’t happen to anyone else.”
The police report filed after the incident gives this version of the event: Kinas got off his boat and confronted the men. French grabbed Kinas’ shirt with both hands and Kinas identified himself as an officer. French started pushing Kinas, the report states, and the other man did as well. Kinas “pushed both males to the ground” and showed his badge, the report continues, and friends came to take French and the other man away. Kinas then “turned to walk away,” the report states. Then French charged Kinas “and pushed him with both hands in his back, stating, ‘I don’t believe you’re a police officer.'”
See the Cleveland.com story here
