John O’Brien of Masury has sued Brookfield Township and its police department and Trumbull County Eastern District Court Probation Department alleging two firearms seized from him have not been returned.
Seized were a Remington hunting rifle and Winchester lever-action hunting rifle, both outfitted with Leopold scopes, according to the suit filed March 3. They were among 56 items seized by court order Aug. 3, 2021, when police were investigating a domestic violence complaint against O’Brien. He eventually pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and the firearms were transferred to the court’s probation department while he was on probation, the suit said.
A March 3, 2023, judgment entry by the court stated that two firearms were missing and could not be returned, the suit said.
The defendants have answered the suit denying the charges and asking that the suit be dismissed.
“This is a simple case with a simple resolution,” said Kevin Daley, O’Brien’s attorney. “The BTPD were responsible for maintaining and properly securing property of Mr. O’Brien’s. When that property was to be returned to Mr. O’Brien there were two items that were not returned to him. Mr. O’Brien is asking for compensation for the property that was not returned to him.”
The suit seeks at least $50,000 compensatory damages as well as attorney’s fees and court costs.
