A city council meeting in an Ohio city quickly grew tense when the mayor issued a sinister warning to residents who demanded transparency following corruption allegations.
Twinsburg Mayor Sam Scaffide told residents that they should 'be careful' while waving a stack of supposed public records.
'We've done our homework, and I'd like to tell you and some of the people in this room, again… be careful. If you are in a glass house, don't throw stones because they will come out as well,' he said at the September 10 meeting.
The warning comes after a lawsuit filed in April by three former Twinsburg police officers that includes allegations of corruption, evidence tampering, covering up of use of excessive force, sexual harassment and botched investigations.
A group of residents have since been asking the city for further transparency on the legal proceedings.
The lawsuit was filed against the city and Police Chief Thomas Mason, claiming the three officers were put on administrative leave in retaliation for attempts to expose misconduct and corruption, Cleveland 19 reported.
A statement released in May from the city of Twinsburg refers to the lawsuit's allegations as a 'despicable smear campaign'
The suit alleges the name of the Chief's underage son was removed from a report about a 2021 Halloween party involving underage drinking, that his daughter's name was removed from a report about drug sweep at Twinsburg High School, and that the Chief intervened to get his wife out of a speeding ticket.
The lawsuit further claims the city failed to release public records related to the incidents, including police reports, body camera footage, and correspondence.
The Twinsburg Mayor and Safety Director released a statement calling the allegations 'unsubstantiated and inflammatory,' reported Cleveland 19.
The statement further stipulates the city's plan to 'vigorously' defend against the lawsuit and reinforces their 'unequivocal' support for Chief Mason and the police department.
'Transparency is key to my administration,' mayor said in a statement to Fox 8, adding that records request by the Council have been made public online.
'[A]fter months of sitting silently while the Police Department and this Administration has been attacked with lies and misinformation, I felt I needed to speak to defend the Police Department and staff at last week's council meeting,' the statement continued. 'My comments were not and should not be taken as a threat to the residents - records are only released in response to public records requests.'