PARMA, Ohio — A Parma police officer accused of lying to gaming agents at a Cleveland casino resigned from his position.
Michael Yonek resigned Tuesday after meeting with the Parma police Chief Joseph Bobak, Deputy Chief of Police Joseph Manning and Parma Public Safety Director Thomas Weinreich, Capt. Kevin Riley confirmed.
Yonek was accompanied during the meeting by an attorney and a representative from Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association union.
Riley couldn’t comment on Yonek’s resignation relative to his pending criminal case.
“However, we want the public to know that each and every day, the men and women of the Parma Police Department proudly serve our community, its residents and visitors,” Riley said. “Parma Police officers will be held to the highest legal and ethical standards, and criminal misconduct committed by any member of this police department will not be tolerated.”
Yonek was indicted earlier this month and faces charges of obstructing official business and identity fraud. He is scheduled for a pretrial conference hearing at 9 a.m. March 7, according to court records.
Yonek, a patrolman who started with the department in August 1997, did not return a call seeking comment Friday afternoon.
His girlfriend Sandra Niermeyer, 31, was indicted Dec. 20, 2016 on charges of identity fraud, forgery, forging identification cards and tampering with records.
Gaming investigators previously said Niermeyer and Yonek were at Jack Casino Nov. 18, 2016 and gave false information to casino officials after they tried to cash in their winnings, according to a report.
Niermeyer asked a casino employee if she could cash in the winnings in Yonek’s name, which the employee denied.
Investigators found several discrepancies between Niermeyer statements and the driver’s license she gave to casino officials, according to the report. She also provided a Social Security number that did not belong to her, the report says.
Agents noticed Yonek also referred to her as Danielle. Another woman approached the group and called her “Sandy,” reports say.
Niermeyer grew hostile when agents said they needed to hold her until they confirmed her identity, the report says.
When Cleveland police asked what her name was, she said Danielle Dobeck, but refused to give her Social Security number. She eventually gave her correct name.
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