Deputy who ran cruiser into Reynoldsburg house resigns

NEWARK - A Licking County Sheriff's Office deputy who drove his cruiser into a Reynoldsburg house has resigned his position.

Jonathan Yaeger, 40, resigned from the sheriff's office June 12. He had been on administrative leave since May.

Yaeger had been scheduled to appear for a trial in Licking County Municipal Court Monday, but the case was continued according to court records.

Yaeger is charged with domestic violence and disorderly conduct for an incident that took place at his Reynoldsburg home on May 2. 

According to court records, Yaeger is believed to have assaulted his wife at their home while off-duty. 

After Yaeger's wife left the residence, Yaeger reportedly got into his cruiser — which he was permitted to keep at his home while off-duty — and drove at a high rate of speed through his yard, across a street and into the side of a home on the 9100 block of Ridgeline Drive.

Court records indicate Yaeger had several injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment. 

Police reports included in the documents filed in Licking County Municipal Court indicate Yaeger's wife had concerns about how he had been acting in the days leading up to May 2. She told officers he had never been violent with her before.

Yaeger had been scheduled to appear for a hearing regarding discipline at the Licking County Sheriff's Office on June 12. 

Yaeger, a 10-year veteran of the department, submitted his resignation in a one-sentence letter during that hearing, effective immediately.

He has entered a not guilty plea to the charges filed against him. A new court date has not yet been scheduled.

In other news:Newark woman Vickie Hughett claims police didn't respond to calls