SUMMIT COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO) – There are new developments in a case 19 is investigating first reported in August involving former Summit County deputy April Woodside, who was fired for having sex with an inmate in 2022.

The case has been under investigation for more than two years.

Now 19 Investigates has obtained part of the criminal investigation into Woodside’s actions, and it indicates she was also suspected of smuggling drugs into the Summit County Jail in October 2022.

However, we found no evidence that the suspected narcotics were ever sent to a lab for testing, despite Summit County Sheriff’s Office policy that states all suspected narcotics will be forwarded to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation for testing.

Meanwhile, a former member of the sheriff’s command staff is speaking out, claiming that the SCSO botched this investigation.

He recently filed a written complaint with the Justice Department — hoping they’ll investigate what he now calls a cover-up.

Records show SCSO began investigating then-Deputy April Woodside in October 2022 for having a romantic relationship with an inmate while supplying him with contraband.

At the time, Woodside was assigned to work at the Summit County Jail, where inmate Jordan Schwertner is serving time for a drug conviction.

Reports indicate that Schwertner and Woodside soon began having a sexual relationship — which she admitted — after invoking Garrity’s rights during an internal affairs investigation.

“We had sex,” Woodside told then-Lt. Troy Dellinger.

“Did you have sex?” Dellinger asked. “Where did this happen?”

“In the cell,” Woodside said.

The jail’s shift commander at the time says 19 Investigates deputies also suspected Woodside was smuggling narcotics into the jail.

“I had a deputy come up to me from day shifts and tell me he thought she was selling drugs to the inmates or giving drugs to the inmates on the bridge,” said Charles, a former SCSO lieutenant.

Charles resigned from the SCSO on October 18, 2024, after nearly 25 years of service. He still works in law enforcement, so he asked 19 inquiries to identify him only by his first name.

Records show that when Woodside was interviewed by detectives in October 2022, she admitted to providing contraband to Schwertner but denied giving him drugs.

“Did you bring cocaine?” Dellinger asked:

“No, I didn’t, I didn’t,” Woodside insisted. “I don’t know where—he said he got it from one of the bailiffs. I don’t know how he got it. I didn’t bring this.”

However, according to Schwertner – she he did.

Schwertner is currently serving time at the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center in Youngstown. 19 Investigates recently interviewed him by phone.

He says a few days before Woodside was fired – deputies searched his cell. When Schwertner was asked what officers confiscated, he recalled the items.

“They found a gram of coke, a gram of meth, a gram of fentanyl, a Percocet, a lighter, a dollar bill,” Schwertner said.

19 Investigations obtained part of the criminal investigation into Woodside, which began in October 2022. SCSO says that case is still ongoing.

According to reports, deputies collected contraband — similar to the items Schwertner recalled — during the week Woodside was fired.

Items listed in the report include a dollar bill lighter and possible narcotics.

The report also lists Woodside as the sole suspect.

We don’t know if those items were ever tested to confirm they were narcotics. We know that neither Woodside nor Schwertner have been charged in connection with this case.

“They found contraband, cigarettes, lighters and possible drugs in the cell,” Charles said. “As far as I know, they haven’t done anything.”

Ohio Revised Code § Chapter 2907 and § Chapter 2921.36 both make it a felony of the third degree for a law enforcement officer to have sexual relations with—or provide drugs to—an inmate.

19 Research beforehand reported Woodside was fired for having a sexual affair with Schwertner. However, we do not know what happened to the suspected narcotics.

In October 2022, Dellinger wrote, “While the investigation is not closed, no criminal charges have been filed at this time.”

According to a December 1, 2022 report, lead investigator Kirk Hostetler closed Woodside’s criminal investigation.

However, SCSO says 19 investigates that this case is still open.

According to reports, it is clear that SCSO is suspected someone smuggled drugs into the prison.

Now Charles is worried if this case will be properly investigated.

According to the SCSO’s Policy on Investigations Section 7.3.1 – IV, it states: “All controlled substances … will be referred directly to the Summit County Drug Unit, who will then coordinate the referral to BCI.”

19 Investigators asked SCSO if the items found in Schwertner’s cell had ever been tested – they did not respond.

I then contacted BCI to request the test results – they responded by email.

So if SCSO never sent those items to BCI for testing, we may never know for sure if they were drugs.

Meanwhile, the SCSO quietly fired Woodside in October 2022.

She was later hired by the University Hospitals Police Department to work as an officer at Ahuja Medical Center in Beachwood.

ugh later fired Woodside after 19 investigations reported was under criminal investigation.

“In my time with the Sheriff’s Office, I’ve never seen anything like this,” Charles said.

Summit County Sheriff Kandy Fatheree declined to comment on the case because it is still under investigation.

19 Investigators reached out to Woodside but did not hear back.

Meanwhile, the US Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division says it is currently reviewing the complaint Charles filed online.

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