Insurance company cancels Crish’s public official bond

Jan. 06--LIMA -- The bonds Allen County Sheriff Sam Crish are required to have are being canceled, according to a notice the bonding company sent to the county.

State law requires sheriffs to hold a bond. The bond ensures if a public official doesn't follow statutes and laws, the liabilities would be paid by the bond company.

The notice from Auto-Owners Insurance informs Crish and county officials his bonds are being canceled effective Feb. 10 due to a claim. No other details were provided. The notice was created Tuesday, and Allen County commissioners received it Friday.

Prosecutor Juergen Waldick said Crish holds two bonds, one for money he handles with a furtherance of justice fund and another elected officials are required to have. Waldick said Crish has until Feb. 10 to secure new bonds.

Michael Rumer, Crish's attorney, said he has not received the notice and declined comment.

Ohio law does not spell out what happens next. It states within 10 days of receiving a commission and before the first Monday of January after the election, the sheriff must obtain a bond.

The notice follows a series of lawsuits against Crish by people saying the sheriff owes them money. Two people filed lawsuits last month against Crish and the county, saying he requested loans under the pretense he was raising money for a dog training program at the sheriff's office.

Greg T. Schiffler, of Lima, is seeking $25,250 plus legal fees. David L. Hefner Sr., of Elida, filed a lawsuit seeking $17,600 plus legal fees, alleging Crish did not pay him and used the same misrepresentation.

Crish also is the subject of an FBI investigation, but the FBI will not say what it's about. The FBI raided his office Sept. 7. Crish has not been charged with any crime.

In September, former Lima councilman Ray Magnus sued Crish for $102,000 saying he let Crish borrow money and was not paid back.

Additionally, convicted drug dealer Demond Liles is appealing his conviction, saying he let Crish borrow $20,000, then Crish used the drug task force to entrap Liles into committing felony drug crimes to get out of paying his debt. Crish denied Liles' allegations when they were first mentioned in a court filing earlier in 2016.

Crish was reelected sheriff in November as the only person on the ballot. Crish has said he is a compulsive gambler and is receiving treatment for it.

Reach Greg Sowinski at 567-242-0464 or on Twitter @Lima_Sowinski.

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