Former Lorain Police Lieutenant indicted following alleged sexual relationship with subordinate officer, drug trafficker

LORAIN – A former Lorain Police Lieutenant has been indicted on several charges, including tampering with evidence and unauthorized use of property, following an internal investigation. Lt. Tabitha Angello was charged with unauthorized use of property, obstructing official business, tampering with records and tampering with evidence after an investigation found she allegedly had a sexual relationship with a subordinate officer, as well as with a convicted drug trafficker both on and off-duty, according to a department news release. Angello resigned in lieu of termination Nov. 10. She was a 16-year veteran of the department. The officer she was involved with, Carlos Trujillo, a four-year veteran of the department, was fired Nov. 14 after the investigation found he was reportedly guilty of multiple administrative violations including three counts of gross misconduct. The investigation first started after an off-duty incident Sept. 21 in the 900 block of Broadway. Sgt. Ken Zapolski, who had been in a long-term romantic relationship with Angello, allegedly assaulted Officer Jesse Perkins while he and Angello were talking in a parking lot. All three officers were initially uncooperative with the investigation, according to the release, but surveillance camera footage from another business showed Zapolski sucker punch Perkins, and then kick and stomp him while he was on the ground, and shove Angello at least once. The initial incident was referred to the Department's Office of Professional Standards for further investigation, and Angello and Zapolski were placed on administrative leave. The pair were reportedly ordered by Chief Jim McCann to turn over their department-issued cell phones, but body-camera footage showed Angello manipulating her phone and deleting 2.2 gigabytes of data. A forensic download of her phone data showed inappropriate acts between her and "at least two of her subordinates," according to the release. From there, the investigation was turned over to the Lorain County Prosecutor's Office as a criminal investigation. According to the release, Angello was found guilty of multiple administrative violations, including nine counts of gross misconduct. The case was presented to a grand jury on Nov. 16 and she was indicted on two counts of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony; two counts of tampering with records, a third-degree felony; obstructing official business, a second-degree misdemeanor; and three counts of unauthorized use of the law enforcement automated database system, a fifth-degree felony. Zapolski was also found guilty of multiple administrative violations, including one county of gross misconduct. He retired from the department Nov. 3, prior to his pre-disciplinary hearing. "A clear message has been sent to the officers of the Lorain Police Department and to members of the public that such repugnant conduct will not be tolerated at the Lorain Police Department," McCann said in the release. "I have taken proactive measures to rid the agency of any disgraceful conduct committed by my officers … The Lorain Police Department will continue to take a zero-tolerance approach for violations stemming from a lack of integrity," he said. "We will continue to be transparent and to work hard to maintain and sustain the support of those who trust us to serve and to do the right thing." This is an ongoing story, check back for details.