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Published on January 24, 2025
Former East Cleveland Police Commander Convicted of Multiple Charges in Connection With Fatal Chases and Cover-upSource: Cuyahoga County Sheriff

Former East Cleveland police commander Larry McDonald has been convicted on multiple charges stemming from incidents, including a fatal crash and subsequent cover-up efforts, according to the results of a recent jury decision. The convictions include tampering with records, obstructing official business, dereliction of duty, tampering with evidence, and telecommunications fraud. As reported by News 5 Cleveland, one of the cases involved a chase that resulted in the death of a 20-year-old man.

On March 12, 2023, McDonald neglected to inform other officers about his engagement in a pursuit,t which led to a severe collision at Ivanhoe Road and St. Clair Avenue in Cleveland. The episode ended in a grim aftermath as the fleeing vehicle crashed into a bus stop. Despite witnessing the crash, McDonald failed to report the occurrence and, contrarily, found comfort in the banality of a lounge on Euclid Avenue. This was revealed through video footage from his body camera, showing him engaging in conversation at the lounge. FOX8 included that during the trial, prosecutors stressed how McDonald only returned to the crash scene after being informed by a fellow officer.

Earlier in 2022, another chase led by McDonald had fatal consequences, terminating in the death of a young man in Euclid. The aftermath was devastating, with a total of four vehicles destroyed and several more damaged. It was a chaotic scene that McDonald failed to acknowledge or report, adding to the layers of accusations levied against him. According to information from WKYC, McDonald's guilty verdict on the numerous charges has been confirmed, though his sentencing date remains to be scheduled at this time.

This conviction represents a severe breach of public trust by a former police officer once entrusted to protect the community he served. His former colleague, Anthony Holmes, previously pleaded guilty to one charge of attempted telecommunications fraud and is awaiting sentencing set for March 17, as noted by WKYC. This case sheds light on the gravity of accountability issues within law enforcement and the critical importance of integrity in upholding the principles of justice and safety.