Cleveland police patch
A Cleveland police officer was charged with a felony and accused of failing to pay state taxes for his private company.
(File photo)
A Cleveland police officer was charged with a felony and accused of failing to pay state taxes for his private company.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Cleveland police officer faces a felony theft charge that accuses him of not paying more than $100,000 in state taxes for his private security company.
Theodore Perez, a 20-year veteran of the department turned himself in to police Thursday, the same day he was charged.
The 44-year-old officer is suspended without pay until the case is resolved, which is department policy for officers charged with a felony.
Defense attorney Henry Hilow said he has not received information on the case from prosecutors yet, but said Perez is a well-respected officer.
"He's a good person and has an outstanding reputation," Hilow said. "I look forward to the opportunity to defend him. He's a good person and I don't believe he did anything criminally wrong."
Perez is accused of failing to pay $113,676 in state taxes between Jan. 23, 2015 and April 23, 2016 for Precision Security Agency, LLC.
The business is located in the 12700 block of Triskett Road. The company provides armed and unarmed security guards and teaches concealed weapons carrying courses.
Perez listed his job for the company as CEO and President on his online resume. Perez applied to incorporate the company with the Ohio Secretary of State, according to the state agency's online records.
He was hired as an officer with the department on July 1, 1996, according to city records. Cleveland police union president Steve Loomis said Perez is a decorated officer with a "fantastic" reputation. Loomis said he knows of no previous disciplinary action against Perez.
"Teddy Perez is a fine officer and has the same expectation of being innocent until proven guilty in a court of law as does every citizen," Loomis said. "We hope that people don't rush to judgment. We trust the criminal justice system and look forward to having our day in court."
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