NSBNews.net video and photos by Henry Frederick / Oak Hill City Hall had a courtroom feel to it Monday night with Police Chief Diane Young and suspended Sgt. Manuel Perez airing their differences before the Personnel Board with a happy ending. Perez, was represented by attorney David Hood, former Ormond Beach mayor. Young is shown at left with Personnel Board member Jeff Bracy. The video has highlights from both sides. NSBNews.net was the only media outlet present.OAK HILL -- Suspended Sgt. Manuel Perez is returning to the police force after an intense hearing Monday night before the city's Personnel Board where he and Chief Diane Young were able to iron out their differences.
Perez had been on paid administrative leave since March on criminal allegations of stealing gas from the city pump and falsifying logs, an accusation he has steadfastly denied from the beginning.
Young, the embattled police chief, whose leadership has been called into question since she was appointed permanently to the position a year ago after acknowledging a drug past two decades earlier that included cocaine and marijuana, had to deal with intense scrutiny involving former Sgt. Mike Ihnken, fired earlier this year, had to deal with yet another sergeant in Perez.
Young told the Personnel Board she had a good relationship with Perez, but was forced to pursue formal charges against him because of a series of public records complaints directly to the City Commission by officer M.J. Ebarhart, who felt she was dragging her feet.
Perez, who put the city on notice that he was filing a federal EOC complaint, alleging discrimination, retained the services of local attorney David Hood, former mayor of Ormond Beach.
Hood presented a series of documents showing flaws in the record keeping of the gas logs to the point where accusations of theft against Perez were convoluted.
"I'm innocent," Perez insisted to the Personnel Board members chaired by Jimmy Goodrich.
"I'm innocent," Perez insisted in his plea to the five-member Personnel Board chaired by Jimmy Goodrich.
Young readily conceded the gas logs were flawed and that she never directly accused Perez of theft; merely investigating the accusation.
At the urging of Hood, Young agreed to put in writing, a public statement clearing Perez of any and all allegations and he agreed in turn to put in writing Young's counter request that Perez absolve the chief and the city of any wrongdoing in his suspension.
The Personnel Board voted unanimously to accept the agreement, with Young rescinding her termination notice and Perez agreeing to cease any litigation.
Perez is expected to rejoin the eight-member police force within the next two weeks.
Editor's Note: NSBNews.net will present additional videos and a follow-up story over the weekend.