Three women have filed a civil rights lawsuit in federal court against the city of Warren, its police chief, and a now-imprisoned former officer, alleging a pattern of sexual misconduct within the police department.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, claims former Warren police officer Michael Edwards Jr. sexually assaulted and exploited vulnerable women while on duty, and that the city and Police Chief Erik J. Merkel failed to address a culture of misconduct within the department.

The three women allege Edwards, who was sentenced last year to 34 to 39 years in prison for rape and other sex crimes, preyed on women who were vulnerable due to their life situations, including sex workers and those struggling with drug addiction.

According to the complaint, Edwards used his position to coerce women into sexual acts, threatening arrest or exposure of sensitive information. The lawsuit alleges that Edwards confessed to having sex with women while on duty and implicated other high-ranking officers in similar conduct in a recorded jail phone call stating they "did it to."

Trumbull County Assistant Prosecutor Gabe Wildman said while they were investigating Edwards there was no other credible evidence that implicated any other officers. When asked about the jail phone call that the lawsuit details Wildman described it as a statement from a defendant to deflect blame adding there was nothing to corroborate Edwards claims.

The lawsuit further claims that a 2019 complaint against Edwards for harassment was ignored by the police department, emboldening him to continue his misconduct.

The women are seeking compensatory and punitive damages, claiming they suffered physical and psychological harm. They allege violations of their constitutional rights, and state law claiming reckless and wanton misconduct.

Edwards was convicted in September 2024 of rape, sexual battery, gross sexual imposition, extortion, theft in office, and dereliction of duty. He committed these crimes while on duty, armed and in uniform.

The lawsuit alleges that the city of Warren and Merkel had knowledge of a widespread practice of sexual misconduct by officers and failed to adequately investigate or correct it.

When Edwards was sentenced, one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys, Bobby DiCello, questioned how Edwards was able to continue his conduct for so long and what the police department and city knew.

Edwards has been an inmate at the Toledo Correctional Institution since November 13, 2024.

None of the defendants had filed a response to the complaint as of late Tuesday. 

Enzo Cantalmessa, the city of Warren's Law Director told 21 News they are aware of the litigation and reviewing it. 

“The city of Warren and the Warren Police Department do not comment on pending litigation,” Cantalmessa said.