Ex-Fostoria cop faces new charge

7/29/2006

FOSTORIA - A former Fostoria police sergeant convicted in November of attempted aggravated assault and menacing by stalking his former wife has been charged with violating terms of his community control, officials said yesterday.

Nicholas D. Portentoso resigned from the Fostoria police force in April, 2003. An indictment said he threatened his then-wife, Kathleen, with a gun Feb. 7, 2003, at her home in Loudon Township.

Portentoso was arrested July 19 after a search of his home turned up ammunition, a hand grenade, a pair of nunchuks, fireworks, gunpowder, and night sticks and clubs, according to a Seneca County Common Pleas Court inventory of items he's forbidden to possess while on probation.

Sheriff Tom Steyer said his deputies accompanied members of the county probation department during a search of Portentoso's home July 17. The sheriff said the grenade may have been a dummy.

He said Portentoso complained of chest pains and was taken to Tiffin Mercy Hospital and then to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center for treatment. He was released two days later.

Common Pleas Court Judge Steve Shuff ordered Portentoso released on his own recognizance until his next court hearing, which has not been scheduled.