In a dramatic turn of events, a man has filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful arrest and prosecution by local police officers. David Szafranski lodged his complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on December 19, 2025, against the City of Vermilion and several of its police officers, including Chief Chris Hartung, Sergeant Benjamin Sargent, and Officer Emily Cobb.
The case stems from an incident that occurred on July 14, 2023, when Szafranski was involved in a road rage altercation with another driver, Joshua Walton. According to the complaint, Walton blocked Szafranski’s vehicle in a gym parking lot and engaged in a profanity-laced tirade. Fearing for his safety, Szafranski displayed his holstered firearm without pointing it at Walton. Despite this restraint, Officers Sargent and Cobb arrested him based on Walton’s claims that Szafranski had “pulled” a gun on him. The complaint alleges that the officers fabricated evidence to justify the arrest and subsequent prosecution for menacing—a charge that was eventually overturned by Ohio’s Sixth District Court of Appeals due to lack of evidence.
Szafranski’s legal team argues that the arrest violated his Fourth Amendment rights against unlawful seizure and his right to due process under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. The lawsuit accuses the defendants of malicious prosecution and fabricating evidence to support an unjust charge. Furthermore, it claims that Chief Hartung and the City of Vermilion failed to adequately train their officers or supervise them properly, resulting in unconstitutional arrests.
The plaintiff is seeking damages exceeding $75,000 along with punitive damages for emotional distress and harm to his reputation. He also demands compensation for legal fees incurred during his defense and appeal process. His attorneys argue that these actions were intentional and showed a blatant disregard for Szafranski’s rights.
Representing David Szafranski are attorneys Peter Pattakos, Gregory Gipson, Zoran Balac, and Maryam Assar from The Pattakos Law Firm LLC. The case is under Case No. 3:25-cv-02749.
Source: 325cv02749_Szafranski_v_City_of_Vermilion_Complaint_Northern_District_Ohio.pdf
