Liberty Local Schools employee accused of breaking school-owned device, throwing it in dumpster

A Liberty Local Schools employee has been charged after police say he accidentally broke a school-owned computer and threw it in a dumpster.

According to a police report, a school resource officer (SRO) at the school district was called in to a meeting with Superintendent Brian Knight and High School Principal Tom Zetts Sunday, May 11.

Knight told the SRO that Luke Polito, who is an intervention assistant for the district, took a computer from the school and put it in his car. 

Police say Polito took the computer from the school because he didn't want school administration to discover that he was using the computer during work time to apply for jobs elsewhere.

The report further alleges that Polito intended to delete his resume and applications from the computer.

Police say Polito intended to leave the computer in his car until Monday, but he put the computer on the roof while cleaning his car and it fell off the roof and broke.

According to the report, Polito panicked and threw the computer away in a dumpster in Boardman. Police say on Saturday morning, Polito got nervous and tried to go back to the dumpster to get the computer back, but it was gone.

According to the report, Knight told Polito that he would be placed on administrative leave following the alleged incident and the SRO informed him that charges would be filed against him.

Court records show Polito is charged with one misdemeanor count of theft and one felony count of vandalism. He is set to be arraigned May 27.

Superintendent Knight provided 21 News with the following statement on this matter:

"Liberty Local Schools is aware of an ongoing investigation involving a staff member. This individual is currently on paid administrative leave. As this is a legal matter, the district will have no further comment at this time."