Police officer ticketed for speed in school zone

3/2/2005

CASTALIA, Ohio A Castalia police officer who is fighting his dismissal from the Kelleys Island Police Department has been cited for speeding through a Margaretta Township school zone, authorities said yesterday.

Thomas Saccenti, 23, was stopped at 8:44 a.m. Friday by an Erie County sheriff s deputy who clocked him going 44 mph in a 20-mph zone in front of Bogart Elementary School on Bogart Road, Sheriff Terry Lyons said.

The sheriff said Officer Saccenti was in uniform when stopped but was off duty, having recently completed an overnight shift in Castalia.

The officer was fired Nov. 10 by Kelleys Island over allegations of misconduct on duty. He has denied wrongdoing and filed a defamation suit against the Village Council and Mayor Rob Quinn.