Cleveland officer arrested and suspended without pay for opening fire near school

CLEVELAND — An off-duty Cleveland police officer arrested yesterday for allegedly discharging a firearm in an elementary school parking lot in Painesville Township has been fired and suspended without pay, according to a statement released by Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy A. Todd. .

Todd said the Lake County Sheriff’s Office will handle the criminal investigation into Sergeant Alexander Sinclair and the Cleveland Police Internal Affairs Unit will “monitor the process to stay informed on the outcome of the criminal investigation.” His future with the force will be determined “pending the determination of criminal charges.”

Sinclair was once considered a rising star in the Cleveland Police Department and briefly took on a high-profile role as the department’s spokesman. He has been on the job since April 2015 and is currently assigned to the Fifth District’s Base Patrol Division.

Cleveland officer who opened fire near school was spokesman

What happened?

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office arrested Sinclair after deputies say he shot through a car window during a domestic dispute. A school resource officer was able to detain him after a struggle.

Two nearby schools were placed on lockdown as first responders rushed to the scene, shaking parents as they rushed to take their children home.

Cleveland police officer arrested after shots fired in Riverview elementary school parking lot

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