Judge denies Commissioner Frenchko's request for restraining order against commissioners, sheriff
WARREN, Ohio - A judge has denied a request for a restraining order filed by the attorneys of Trumbull County Commissioner Niki Frenchko.
21 News reported Monday that Frenchko filed a civil lawsuit against multiple employees of the Trumbull County Sheriff's Office and county commissioners.
Arguments for the restraining order were heard Tuesday in the United States District Court where Judge J. Philip Calabrese denied the motion.
Frenchko is suing Trumbull County Sheriff Paul Monroe, County Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa, former County Commissioner Frank Fuda and others in reference to an incident where Frenchko was arrested during a meeting in July 2022.
The lawsuit claims that Frenchko was deprived of her rights as defined by 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for a "ruthless false arrest intended to punish a political adversary for criticizing the County Sheriff in violation of the first, fourth and fourteenth amendments in the United States Constitution, as well as Ohio law."
According to the lawsuit, the criticisms made against Monroe had to do with accusations that inmates at the Trumbull County Jail had received poor medical treatment.
The lawsuit says Monroe demanded Frenchko apologize for the comments and her reading of a letter from an inmate's mother.
Commissioner Frenchko refused to apologize which according to the lawsuit led to her being falsely arrested for disrupting a public meeting.
Two sheriff's deputies were at the meeting, something viewed as "abnormal" according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit goes on to accuse Sheriff Monroe of multiple incidents of abusing his power to interfere with Frenchko's rights, specifically citing another incident captured on video of Monroe slapping Frenchko's cell phone out of her hand while she was recording a meeting.
Commissioner Cantalamessa and former Commissioner Fuda are also mentioned, with the lawsuit stating both commissioners are known to have "passionate disagreements" with Frenchko citing numerous occasions where they are alleged to raise their voices, interrupt each other and level accusations at one another.
For now, no restraining order is in effect.
