Richland County deputy terminated
MANSFIELD - A Richland County Sheriff's deputy has been terminated from the department following an offduty incident with a Mansfield police officer who is his girlfriend.
Maj. Joe Masi confirmed Deputy Eric Wendling was terminated on Friday.
Both the Mansfield police officer and Wendling were charged with assault following an off-duty incident at 1:13 a.m. Feb. 28 at a residence in the city, Mansfield Police Chief Keith Porch earlier reported in a news release.
The charge, a first-degree misdemeanor, stems from a disturbance and physical confrontation that occurred between Mansfield police Officer Brittney Pennywitt and Wendling, according to Porch.
Pennywitt, who was sworn in on May 20, 2019, has been on paid administrative leave since the altercation and the pending investigative followup by the Mansfield Division of Police. She was formally charged following a review of the case by the Mansfield Law Director's Office. She remains on paid administrative leave pending an internal affairs review as well as the outcome of the pending criminal charge.
Wendling was sworn in as a deputy in 2016.
He was placed under arrest then transported to the Shelby Police Department Jail where he was charged and incarcerated to await a court appearance or posting of bond, according to the police report.
A bench trial is scheduled for Wendling at 1 p.m. May 18 in Mansfield Municipal Judge Jerry Ault's courtroom.
Pennywitt is scheduled for a jury trial at 9 a.m. May 26 before Mansfield Municipal Judge Frank Ardis.