Lucas County deputy arrested on falsification charges, intimidation of a witness

5/21/2013

A Lucas County Sheriff's Deputy was arrested today on allegations that he gave a gun to a known felon, threatened to kill the man -- who was a paid informant -- and filed a false police report.

Deputy Paul Little, a 13-year veteran of the department, is being held in the Lucas County jail on charges of falsification, unlawful transactions in weapons, and intimidation of a witness. He is to be arraigned Wednesday in Toledo Municipal Court.

The deputy's brother, David Little, was also charged with intimidation of a witness.

The investigation into the brothers was launched after officials were made aware that the two might be involved in trafficking of marijuana.

According to court documents, on May 6, Deputy Little, 40, of 3932 Lambert Dr., gave a 9mm Smith and Wesson firearm to an informant who was working with the sheriff's department. The informant is a known felon, so he cannot legally possess a firearm.

Upon receiving the gun, the informant called Capt. Donald Atkinson, who oversees internal affairs, and the gun was booked into the property room.

That same day, the deputy filed a report with the Toledo Police Department stating that his gun was stolen from his vehicle, according to court documents.

Once the informant gave the deputy his gun back, the deputy told a sheriff's sergeant that he found the gun at his home.

According to court documents, the deputy was being watched by undercover Toledo police officers.

On Monday, the deputy reportedly called the paid informant and, with his brother, allegedly threatened the informant saying, "No matter what, we are going to kill you," court documents state.

Calls to both Sheriff John Tharp and Captain Atkinson were not immediately returned.