Newton Falls police chief seeking $5 million in lawsuit against village

NEWTON FALLS, Ohio (WKBN) – The Village of Newton Falls is the subject of a lawsuit alleging defamation and malicious prosecution centering around charges that had been filed and later dismissed against the village’s police chief.

The police chief, Gene Fixler, and his spouse filed the lawsuit in Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas last month, seeking judgment of $5 million. They are accusing the village of abuse of process, defamation and malicious prosecution.

Fixler alleges in his lawsuit that the village and former village manager Pamela Priddy made untrue allegations in a criminal complaint against him resulting in harm to his reputation and false imprisonment. He alleged that the charges against him were pursued by the defendants with malice.

Dereliction of duty charges were filed against Fixler and Dallas Young in December 2022, stemming from a crash that killed a woman in 2020.

According to the complaint that had been filed in Newton Falls Municipal Court, Young and Fixler did not stop someone from driving under the influence, resulting in a person’s death.

Charges in the case were later dismissed.

Fixler had previously criticized the charges against him, saying the incident had been reviewed by state agencies that found no issues.

After the charge had been filed against Fixler, he was fired from his job, but earlier in August, the village added Fixler back to the payroll . He had been working to put the police department back together.

The police department disbanded in 2023 after a police levy failed . Now, the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office patrols the village.

Pamela Priddy, a defendant in the lawsuit, was terminated during a special meeting in Januar y. She also has her own lawsuit against the village in federal court for her removal, alleging breach of contract and retaliation.

That lawsuit is still pending after a mediation hearing on Sept. 5 did not result in an agreement.

Patty Coller contributed to this report.

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