Former Lyndhurst cop accused of stealing heroin from evidence room

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BYLINE: Donna J. Miller

Lyndhurst, OH

LYNDHURST, Ohio — A Cuyahoga County grand jury indicted a 15-year-veteran police officer on charges of drug possession, tampering with evidence and theft in office.

Former Lyndhurst patrolman Robert Colombo, 40, of Northfield Center Township, is accused of stealing drugs from the police station and overdosing. He was arraigned Friday and released on bond. He is due back in court Oct. 27.

Prosecutors say Colombo was one of the Lyndhurst officers who responded May 19 to a car crash at Richmond and Anderson roads. The officers found heroin and arrested two people, prosecutor's spokesman Ryan Miday said.
Colombo took the evidence and replaced it with rock salt, Miday said.

The next day, Colombo overdosed at his home in Summit County and was rushed to the hospital, Lyndhurst Chief Rick Porrello said earlier this year. Colombo resigned. Porrello asked the state Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation to investigate.

Porrello said Colombo was a great cop.

"Nobody had any idea that he would make a choice like that," Porrello said in August. "He will be held accountable criminally. He will no longer be a police officer in Lyndhurst or anywhere for that matter."

Colombo is scheduled to be arraigned Nov.16 in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

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