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WARREN -- A retired Warren police detective filed a complaint in Niles Municipal Court on Tuesday against the city of Niles, its police department, Niles Mayor Steve Mientkiewicz, other city officials and police officers, as well as Central Ohio Railroad in order to hold them accountable for an accident that caused more than $15,000 in damage to his recreational vehicle.
Jeffrey R. Hoolihan states in the complaint that on June 23, he and two other persons were traveling east on Mahoning Avenue just north of Pratt Street in the eastbound lane in Hoolihan's 29-foot 2002 Gulfstream Sun Voyager when a black semi-truck and trailer traveling west crossed into the eastbound lane, forcing the driver to swerve to the side of the road to avoid a collision.
Hoolihan states in the complaint that the concrete barrier was hidden by high weeds. Damage to Hoolihan's vehicle included damage to its tires, rims, undercarriage and the lower right side of the motorhome.
Hoolihan argues that city officials knew or should have known the concrete barrier was hazardous because of prior citizen complaints and by the 311 service requests, internal work orders and reports from safety forces prior to the June incident.
Hoolihan, a 27-year former police officer and detective in Warren, in his filing claims Niles was negligent in maintaining reasonable care of the road by not removing the hazard. He also accused officers investigating the crash of being malicious, reckless and working in bad faith.
The complaint noted that police officer Nickolas Grabosky allowed the truck's driver to leave without properly obtaining his identity or the name of the trucking company.
In the court filing, Hoolihan noted that on a body camera recording, Grabosky remarked that the curve was "a tough corner for semis and recreational vehicles."
Several police officers suggested Hoolihan likely would be found at fault if an accident report was filed because he struck city-owned property, according to Hoolihan's court filing.
At 12:30 p.m. June 25, Hoolihan went to the Niles Police Department to provide additional information and witness statements, according to the court filing. During a meeting with Niles Police Capt. Robert Miketa in the department's lobby, Hoolihan requested the report be amended from "at fault" to "unable to determine fault."
Miketa allowed Hoolihan to watch body camera footage, according to the court filing. Hoolihan then asked Miketa about his experience in doing accident reports and a series of questions outlining what is generally done at accidents when collecting information about what happened at the scene.
On July 1, Hoolihan made several public records requests for all information regarding the incident, including the body camera footage from officers. Hoolihan, in the court filing, argues the police report is incomplete and full of inaccuracies.
Hoolihan is seeking compensation for emotional distress and financial loss.
"I want the city administration to be held accountable," he said. "I want the officers to be held accountable. I want the city to pay for my RV damage."
Hoolihan noted he also is seeking internal affairs investigations to be conducted on the officers involved.
"Nothing is off the table," he said. "I will not hesitate to take additional measures to ensure accountability."