Embattled deputy Calvillo resigns from sheriff's office

FREMONT - Sandusky County Sheriff's Office Deputy Jose Calvillo resigned Friday after being under investigation for months over alleged misuse of office-issued equipment.

Sheriff Chris Hilton issued a brief statement Monday regarding Calvillo's resignation.

Hilton said the deputy, who had served with the sheriff's office for 21 years, tendered his resignation prior to the conclusion of an internal investigation being conducted by the Lucas County Sheriff's Office.

"There was no criminal aspect to the investigation. As it stands, the matter is considered closed (due) to the resignation of Deputy Calvillo being accepted," Hilton said.

Hilton could not be reached Monday for a response to additional questions regarding the circumstances of Calvillo's resignation and what equipment he allegedly misused. 

The deputy's resignation closed the book on a lengthy career that included multiple suspensions and a multi-million lawsuit that was ultimately dismissed against Calvillo and his brother, Mario, for their actions in a highly controversial 2010 wrongful death case.

Calvillo, who was placed on paid leave April 10 while being investigated by Lucas County Sheriff's Office, has been suspended three times by the sheriff's office, once in 2007 for insubordination for refusing to stay away from his wife during their divorce; in 2009 after an altercation with a man and a taxi driver over a woman during a night out, and again in 2009 for conduct unbecoming of an officer for allegedly stalking a former girlfriend.

Jose and his brother, Mario Calvillo, were named in a $20 million lawsuit along with ex-sheriff Kyle Overmyer and the Sandusky County Commissioners filed by the family of Bryan Jones, who was shot and killed by a Tactical Response Team in July 2010.

Deputy on paid leave after incident

A Sandusky County jury ruled in favor of the county, and the Sixth District Court of Appeals in 2016 denied the family's request of a retrial.

In January 2017, Jose Calvillo was cleared of any wrongdoing following a complaint made to Hilton that Calvillo had been following Overmyer in a vehicle in September 2016.

cshoup@gannett.com

419-334-1035

Twitter: @CraigShoupNH

dacarson@gannett.com

419-334-1046

Twitter: @DanielCarson7