I reported crimes tied to the Wyandot County Jail at 125 E. Wyandot Avenue in Upper Sandusky. The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction inspected the jail on December 3, 2024. The Department issued an inspection letter dated December 19, 2024. That letter documented thirty three noncompliance findings. Seventeen of those were essential standards. A follow up letter dated February 19, 2025 confirmed only one fix. It said the jail remained out of compliance with thirty two standards and remained designated a Status Jail. I sent those records with my criminal complaint to the Upper Sandusky Police Department. The Chief refused to take a report. I filed a complaint with the Mayor. I asked the County Prosecutor to refer the criminal investigation to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and to use a special prosecutor due to conflict. These are straightforward steps that protect evidence and reduce conflicts.

The legal framework is simple. The sheriff has statutory charge of the county jail. The statute says the sheriff shall keep persons safely and shall govern and regulate the jail according to minimum standards set by the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. See R.C. 341.01. The minimum jail standards exist by statute. The Director of Rehabilitation and Correction sets those standards by rule and controls variances. See R.C. 5120.10. Municipal police have a duty to enforce all criminal laws of Ohio. See R.C. 737.11. The criminal statutes at issue include Dereliction of Duty and Interfering with Civil Rights. See R.C. 2921.44 and R.C. 2921.45. Jurisdiction is covered by R.C. 2935.03. City police have authority to act within the city and the sheriff has county authority. The refusal to take a report inside city limits does not match R.C. 737.11.

The inspection letters lay out essential and important failures. The findings include security, booking, communications, restraint monitoring, key control, documentation of lighting, fire drill intervals, and multiple health care and mental health standards. The jail achieved compliance on sick call policy only by February 19, 2025. The designation remained Status Jail. I asked Upper Sandusky Police to open a case, take my statement, and preserve the jail documents listed in my complaint. That includes policies, training files, logs, video, use of force records, segregation records, medical and mental health files, call logs, incident reports, keys and access control logs, and any email or text messages tied to the failures. The Chief refused to take a report. I made a mayoral complaint. I asked the County Prosecutor for a BCI referral and a special prosecutor assignment due to conflict.

The sheriff’s decision to decline disciplinary action against the jail administrator after formal notice of essential noncompliance raises a specific statutory issue. R.C. 311.05 addresses sheriff responsibility for deputy neglect or misconduct. The statute includes responsibility where the sheriff orders the act, has prior knowledge and consents, participates, acts with reckless disregard, or ratifies the misconduct. Ratification applies when an officer with supervisory authority refuses to act after receiving notice, thereby adopting the misconduct. In this context, the sheriff’s notice included the ODRC letters and my complaint. The decision to refuse investigation supports ratification under R.C. 311.05, which creates personal responsibility for deputy misconduct when ratified.

Dereliction of Duty under R.C. 2921.44 covers a public servant who recklessly fails to perform a duty imposed by law. It also covers an officer having charge of a detention facility who negligently permits unsanitary conditions, fails to provide adequate medical attention, or fails to observe lawful regulations for jail management. Interfering with Civil Rights under R.C. 2921.45 prohibits a public servant, under color of office, from knowingly depriving a person of rights secured by the constitution or laws. Interference can occur through actions or omissions that block access to statutory protections. Essential minimum standards exist to protect health, life, and due process in custody. When those standards are not followed, criminal exposure can exist. The inspection letters identify failures that fit these statutes. That is why I sought a criminal investigation and an independent review.

R.C. 2935.03 governs authority to arrest and pursue. It also shows the concurrent law enforcement presence within city limits. The Upper Sandusky Police Department had jurisdiction to accept a complaint and open a case for offenses that occurred inside the city. R.C. 737.11 frames that duty. The refusal to take a report does not align with that duty. This is not a civil dispute. This is a criminal enforcement problem tied to conditions in a detention facility. Evidence retention windows close quickly. A prompt case opening protects the record.

I am correcting a citation in my prior correspondence to the sheriff. I previously referenced R.C. 341.05 in the context of ratification. The correct statute is R.C. 311.05. The jail governance statute remains R.C. 341.01. The ratification responsibility for a deputy or subordinate is R.C. 311.05. I am placing the corrected line here for clarity.

Corrected line to send to Sheriff Frey

“Your refusal to initiate a disciplinary investigation after formal notice of essential standard failures ratifies the misconduct of the jail administrator and makes you responsible under R.C. 311.05.”

Requested actions for accountability

Open a criminal case at Upper Sandusky Police. Take my statement. Issue preservation notices for all jail records listed in my complaint.

Engage BCI for an independent criminal investigation.

Assign a special prosecutor due to conflicts.

Apply R.C. 341.01 and R.C. 5120.10 to end the essential failures.

Apply R.C. 311.05 to evaluate the sheriff’s responsibility for subordinate misconduct after notice.

Key dates and records for readers

December 3, 2024 ODRC inspection date.

December 19, 2024 ODRC letter listing thirty three noncompliance findings, including seventeen essential standards.

February 19, 2025 ODRC follow up letter reporting only one fix, thirty two items still out of compliance, Status Jail designation.

My complaint to Upper Sandusky Police with exhibits.

The Chief’s refusal to take a report.

My mayoral complaint.

My request to the County Prosecutor for a BCI referral and special prosecutor.

Legal references for readers

R.C. 341.01 jail governance.

R.C. 5120.10 minimum jail standards.

R.C. 737.11 police duty to enforce state criminal law.

R.C. 2921.44 dereliction of duty.

R.C. 2921.45 interfering with civil rights.

R.C. 2935.03 jurisdiction and authority.

R.C. 311.05 sheriff responsibility and ratification.

What this means for the public

Minimum jail standards exist to protect health and life. When a jail fails essential standards, risk rises for inmates, staff, and the public. Criminal investigation is not optional when the facts show probable cause. Police serve the public by opening a case, preserving evidence, and calling in BCI when conflicts exist. Prosecutors protect the public by assigning a special prosecutor when needed. Sheriffs protect the public by enforcing standards, disciplining subordinates who violate standards, and correcting failures. The statutes cited here define those duties.

Call to action for local officials

Accept and log criminal complaints. Preserve records. Coordinate with BCI. Provide a public update that includes a case number, the scope of preservation, and the name of the independent investigator or special prosecutor. Publish a corrective action plan for every essential standard that remains out of compliance. Publish policy revisions, training plans, and verification steps with dates and responsible officials. Set a firm timeline for removal of the Status Jail designation and certify compliance to the public once verified.

Call to action for readers

If you have information tied to the Wyandot County Jail, contact me. If you are an employee or contractor with knowledge of conditions, policies, training, or incidents tied to the essential failures, you can share documents, logs, or firsthand accounts. If you are a family member of someone housed there and you have records of denied medical care, unsafe conditions, or rights violations, bring those details forward. Your records can protect people and can help law enforcement reach the truth.

Contact

Name: Charles Tingler

Email: charlesltingler1991@gmail.com

Phone: 419.765.4802 or 419.603.8689

Mailing address: 302 E 2nd Street, Apt B, Defiance, Ohio 43512