21 News has obtained a report from the Trumbull County Sheriff detailing what witnesses had to say about an alleged workplace confrontation between County Commissioner Niki Frenchko and Human Resources Director Charles Leightner.

THE COMMISIONER’S STORY

Frenchko told deputies that Leightner punched her in the rib cage after she began copying pages from his notebook on Tuesday.  Leightner denies punching Frenchko.

Commissioner Frenchko told deputies that when Leightner saw her copying paperwork, she believed to be public record, he grabbed them and struck her with his fist in her right upper rib cage.

Deputies say since Frenchko was upset and crying, saying she was in pain, an ambulance was called to evaluate the commissioner, who refused to be taken to a hospital.

Frenchko told 21 News that the encounter left her with a red mark on her rib cage.  

According to the Sheriff's report, Deputies also interviewed Leightner, as well as employees Rebecca Smith and Steven Charles.

WITNESS #1

Steven Charles told deputies that Frenchko walked in and asked what he and Lightner was talking about.

Charles said Frenchko asked for a copy of Leightner’s notes, at which time Leightner told Frenchko it was none of her business.

After Leightner left the office, Charles said that Frenchko took Leightner’s notebook to the copy machine.

Charles told deputies he wasn’t looking at Frenchko when Leightner returned but heard what was described in the report as a “stomp”, followed by Frenchko yelling “call 9-1-1”.

WITNESS #2

The other employee, Rebecca Smith, told investigators she watched the incident through a mirror above her office door.

Smith said she saw Frenchko place her ear to the closed door of an office where Leightner and Charles were meeting.

Frenchko opened the door and asked the men what they were discussing, according to Smith.

Commissioner Frenchko declared that she was making a public records request, wanting to see Leightner’s notebook, Smith told deputies.

According to Smith, Leightner told Frenchko to leave and make an appointment. When Leightner left the office, Frenchko took his binder and began making copies of the notes.

Leightner returned, said Smith, and grabbed his notebook that was on a stack of boxes.  Smith said that Leightner did not touch Frenchko or go after her in any way.

 

The Sheriff's report has a picture of the copy machine and the mirror

 LEIGHTNER’S STORY

Leightner told interviewers that Frenchko came into his office asking about a records request and accused him of telling workers to be insubordinate to her request.

Director Leightner says he told Frenchko that he had advised workers that records request should be made by two commissioners and not just one.

Leightner said Frenchko told him that she was his superior and wanted a copy of his notes, which Leightner claims had personal information that he did not want Frenchko to see.

After telling Frenchko she would have to make an appointment to discuss the matter, Leightner said he left his office.

Upon returning, Leightner said in his statement that grabbed his notebook from Frenchko who yelled to call 9-1-1.

Leightner claimed that the situation had been going on since he started working at Human Resources two days before.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Deputies say they told Frenchko that she would need to talk to the prosecutor if she wished to pursue assault charges against Leightner. They also told her how to file a civil protection order.

Frenchko asked about how she could obtain security footage from the office.

As of late Thursday morning, a check of Warren Municipal Court Records shows no charges have been filed against Leightner and Common Pleas Court does not show a request for a civil protection order.

Frenchko provided 21 News with an email from a member of an HR panel questioning the procedure used to hire Leightner stating that Leightner's interactions with Frenchko were not professional. 

Commissioner Frenchko said she went to Leightner's office because she alleges that he told a county employee not to give her records requested about 230 hours of comp time claimed by a county clerk.

According to Frenchko, the location where the incident occurred is not visible through the mirror that Smith said she witnessed what happened.

21 News is also making an effort to obtain any security video that may be relevant to the investigation.