Second Oak Hill sergeant suspended under the command of embattled Police Chief Diane Young

Oak Hill police Sgt. Manuel Perez has been suspended on corruption charges.Oak Hill police Sgt. Mike Ihnken has been fired on corruption charges.Oak Hill Police Chief Diane Young is under fire for corruption in her force.

OAK Hill Cops: Cocaine, Corruption & Chaos

Photos by Sera Frederick and Henry Frederick / Oak Hill police Sgt. Many Perez, shown far left, is the second sergeant suspended under the administration of Chief Diane Young on corruption charges. Mike Ihnken, in the middle photo, was fired March 28. Just two days later, Perez was placed on administrative leave with pay. Young has come under fire for her own past cocaine and marijuana use and had a running battle with Mayor Darla over the administering of the police force, twice demanding the chief resign and even trying to have her demoted. Instead, it was the mayor who stepped down last week. 

OAK HILL -- Corruption allegations continue unabated in the Oak Hill police force with yet another sergeant suspended with pay -- this time accused of stealing gas from the city pump.

Just two days after the City Commission voted 4-0 to outright fire suspended demoted sergeant and suspended officer Michael Ihnken, embattled Police Chief Diane Young finally demanded Sgt. Manuel Perez's gun and badge, NSBNews.net has learned.

Young had known since November of allegations Perez was stealing gasoline, but took no action until one of her own officers twice reported the situation to the City Commission in writing.

NSBNews.net asked Young in mid-February about allegations Perez was stealing gas, for which she declined comment.

She also refused NSBNews.net's request to ask Perez directly, saying she had ordered him not to speak to the press. Young knew about the gas theft allegations against Perez as far back as November, a city employee told NSBNews.net over the weekend on condition of anonymity.

On Jan. 5, officer M.J. Eberhart and Sgt. Brian Riley showed Young where the mileage logs signed by Perez showed the mileage numbers didn't add up. Eberhart twice sent letters to the City Commission last month, including a statement from former Acting Police Chief Bob Walker, who confirmed Young went to his house in February and told "it's pretty cut and dry" fuel was being stolen and that she knew who was behind it, mentioning Perez by his first name.

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