Cleveland girl came in contact with the line and is still recovering
(Cleveland) - Cleveland Safety Director Martin Flask says police officer Gary Steigelmeyer is suspended for 20 work days without pay.
He appeared at a disciplinary hearing, Wednesday, and pled no contest to a charge that he failed to follow an order that required him to be properly relieved before he left the scene or a reported downed power line on November 1, 2012.
Steigelmeyer had been ordered to check on a downed power line near East 130th Street and Iroquois Avenue, just after 9 a.m. He radioed dispatch that he saw only a downed telephone line and left the scene.
About six hours later, 12 year old Gasia Thomas touched the wire and was shocked. She is at a rehabilitation facility after a lengthy hospitalization. Thomas' family has filed a lawsuit against FirstEnergy and Cleveland officials.
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