WARREN — The city of Warren and its police chief, Eric J. Merkel, have formally denied liability in a federal lawsuit accusing them of enabling a years-long pattern of sexual assaults and misconduct by a former officer, according to a May 16 court filing.

The lawsuit, filed by three women in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, alleges that ex-officer Michael Edwards Jr. raped, sexually battered and extorted multiple women between 2019 and 2024 while on duty.

In their response, city officials and Merkel, represented by Mazanec, Raskin & Ryder Co., L.P.A., denied most of the allegations or stated they lacked sufficient information to admit or deny them.

They acknowledged Edwards’ March 2024 indictment and September 2024 conviction on charges including rape, sexual battery and theft in office in Trumbull County. However, the defendants rejected claims of a broader police department culture that permitted such misconduct, denying liability for alleged constitutional violations and reckless misconduct.

Edwards is incarcerated at Toledo Correctional Institution.

The plaintiffs, Monica Mason, Caitlin Brannan and Lori Hemberger, allege Edwards targeted vulnerable women — particularly sex workers and those struggling with addiction — using threats of arrest or exposure to coerce sexual acts.

The complaint cites a 2019 harassment complaint against Edwards that was allegedly ignored and claims Edwards admitted in jail to similar misconduct by other high-ranking officers. One plaintiff recorded an encounter with Edwards at a motel, which was later used as evidence, while another alleges he raped her during a domestic disturbance call.

The defendants’ filing asserts multiple affirmative defenses, including that the plaintiffs’ claims fail to state a valid legal basis, that any injuries were caused by others for whom the city and Merkel are not responsible, and that they are protected by immunities under Ohio law. They also argue the plaintiffs’ claims may be barred by the statute of limitations, contributory negligence, or failure to include necessary parties. A jury trial has been demanded.

The lawsuit, invoking the Supreme Court’s Monell precedent, seeks compensatory and punitive damages for alleged violations of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments and Ohio state law. No further responses from the defendants have been filed.