Former Blue Ash police lieutenant agrees to plead guilty to felony: court documents

BLUE ASH, Ohio (WXIX) – A former high-ranking member of the Blue Ash Police Department has agreed to plead guilty to a felony.

As police announced earlier this year, Jason Swartwout resigned in January amid a criminal investigation into alleged discrepancies in timesheets.

According to court records, he will plead guilty next week to one count of falsifying records.

Swartwout, 47, waived his right to a trial and agreed to plead guilty to the misdemeanor charge in a “bill of information,” according to court documents signed by both he and Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers and filed Friday morning.

According to a copy, the crime occurred “on or about October 30, 2023, through on or about November 10, 2023” while he was working as a police officer at Blue Ash.

“During the period in question, the defendant falsified documents or records without proper authorization. Through these actions, the City of Blue Ash was defrauded of the defendant's services. The defendant has agreed to plead guilty to tampering with records,” the court filing states.

His hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday before Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Robert Goering.

“After much thought and discussion, Lt. Swartwout decided to plead to a misdemeanor in this case,” said his defense attorney Mike Allen.

“He was a great police officer with an excellent track record and it's a shame it has come to this.”

FOX19 NOW has reached out to Blue Ash police for comment. We will update this story when we receive a response.

At the request of Blue Ash Police Chief Scott Noel, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) began its investigation last fall.

According to police emails, the charges against Swartwout were initially theft of office and falsification of documents.

Due to the criminal investigation, no details, such as the amount of money allegedly involved, were disclosed.

On 24 January, two weeks after Swartwout's resignation, the BCI handed over its investigation to the public prosecutor.

He joined the department in 2013 and, according to his personnel file, rose to the rank of lieutenant thanks to positive performance evaluations and awards.

“Due to unforeseen personal problems, I have decided to submit my immediate resignation,” he said in his resignation letter.

“During my time here, I have learned skills and been given opportunities that I would not have had anywhere else. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me along the way. I would also like to sincerely apologize for any heartache this journey has brought.

“With that in mind, I would also like to offer my support in the transition process. Please do not hesitate to reach out if there is anything I can do to ease this transition.”

The following month, on February 27, the City of Blue Ash quietly entered into a “severance agreement and general release” with Swartwout, despite “a dispute as to whether Swartwout owed Blue Ash certain monies.”

The city's minutes also state: “Swartwout and Blue Ash now seek a full and final settlement of all claims relating to or arising out of his employment.”

City Manager David Walz signed the contract together with Swartwout.

It states: “The City will pay Swartwout's compensation (47.5 hours) in the amount of $2,797.28 and his vacation entitlement (223.53 hours) in the amount of $13,163.62, less applicable deductions, for the first full pay period following the expiration of the cooling-off period pursuant to paragraph 5.”

The city and Swartwout have agreed to indemnify each other against all claims, including:

• The City, its elected officials, past and present officers, representatives, agents, employees, “designees and all other persons and entities acting through, under, on behalf of, or in pursuance of any of them.”
• “All costs, complaints, suits, proceedings, liabilities, obligations, promises, agreements, disputes, damages, actions, causes of action, rights, demands, losses, debts and expenses (including actual court costs and attorneys’ fees).”

The agreement requires Swartwout and the city to keep the information confidential except for public records requests, and he can disclose the information to his lawyer, wife and financial planner.

There is also a standard non-disparagement clause.

Swartwout is not currently listed in any state registry as an active officer of any police department in Ohio.

Although he can continue to work as a police officer, his misdemeanor conviction places him on Hamilton County's Brady List.

A Supreme Court ruling more than 50 years old requires prosecutors to obtain and present to defense attorneys and defendants evidence relevant to their guilt or punishment.

These include evidence of untruthfulness, certain previous criminal convictions and evidence of bias and excessive use of force.

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