BORDERLAND

Walbridge man pleads
 to impersonating officer

11/5/2013

A Walbridge man was convicted Tuesday on charges he solicited donations for a charity while pretending to be a Lucas County Sheriff’s deputy.

Joseph E. Steward, 45, pleaded no contest in Toledo Municipal Court to impersonating a peace officer and unauthorized use of property. Judge Amy Berling sentenced him to 90 days in the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio and placed him on active probation for six months.

According to court records, Mr. Steward went into a carry-out Oct. 14 on West Sylvania Avenue, where he identified himself as a lieutenant with the sheriff’s office and said he was soliciting donations on behalf of the department’s charities.

An individual gave him $50, and Mr. Steward gave him a receipt.