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Assault case against former police officer dismissed
DAYTON - The abduction and assault charges filed against a former Columbus police officer have been dismissed without prejudice by a Montgomery County common pleas judge.
Joshua Gearhart does not face any charges at this time related to the alleged abduction and assault of his former girlfriend in November.
A motion filed on Jan. 5. states an application filed by the prosecuting attorney and good cause shown was the reason for the dismissal, according to court documents. Though the case was dismissed, a grand jury is expected to hear the case at some point, prosecutor’s office spokesman Greg Flannagan said.
Gearhart, 27, was an auxiliary police officer with the Whitehall Police Department when he was spotted near Leona Lane and Ohio 725 about 6 a.m. after witnesses reported a woman soaking wet and covered in mud in grass clippings was standing in the road, Maj. Scott Landis said.
The woman said Gearhart drove from near Columbus and the two went out, Landis said. At some point, Gearhart requested she “do something for him,” and made threats that he would harm her if she didn’t, Landis said.
An argument ensued and the woman grabbed the keys from Gearhart’s truck and fled on foot, Landis said. Gearhart caught up with her, tried to drag her back to his truck and the two wrestled in a ditch full of water, Landis said.
County prosecutors approved a felony abduction charge against Gearhart, but he was never indicted by a grand jury.
Gearhart’s attorney said after the incident his client was wrongly accused and his ex-girlfriend wanted the charges dropped.
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