HOCKING COUNTY, Ohio — Laurelville Fire Chief Roger Valentine was acquitted late last week in Hocking County Court after facing charges of impersonating a police officer.
The case stemmed from an incident on September 27, 2024, during the Laurelville Fire Department’s Car Show and Fun Weekend. Prosecutors alleged Valentine used his marked fire department vehicle to stop two drivers for speeding on a road closed for the event.
While Ohio law does allow authorized emergency vehicles to make traffic stops under certain conditions, deputies from the Hocking County Sheriff’s Office were already patrolling the area at the time.
After deliberation, a jury found Valentine not guilty of the charge.
