RAVENNA, Ohio — I sent a third public records request to the Portage County Sheriff’s Office today, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026. The email went to the office’s records address at 1:52 p.m.

The request is new and separate, made under Ohio Revised Code 149.43. My earlier requests of Sept. 4, 2026 and Oct. 5, 2026 remain open, and this one does not replace, narrow or withdraw them. It asks for the same kinds of records for the period after those requests, plus additional material.

Specifically, the request asks for:

• Emails, texts on agency-issued devices and written correspondence since Oct. 6 to or from Sheriff Bruce D. Zuchowski or Chief Deputy Ralph Spidalieri containing terms such as “Lane,” “drunk,” “intoxicated,” “fair,” “Randolph” or “Bad Bruce.”
• Communications since Oct. 6 involving the Sheriff or any Sheriff’s Office employee that mention “Fostoria Free Press” or “Tolento.”
• The mileage log for the Sheriff’s assigned vehicle since Oct. 6.
• Complaints received since Sept. 5 alleging on-duty intoxication, threats, harassment or unprofessional conduct by the Sheriff or Chief Deputy, or misconduct tied to William Lane or “The Bad Bruce Exhibit.”
• Internal-affairs and administrative investigation files concerning the Sheriff or Chief Deputy opened or issued since Sept. 5.

These are records requests, not findings. The request asks whether such records exist; it does not establish that any of the conduct described took place.

The request states that the office has until Nov. 15, 2026 to comply before a Pre-Litigation Notice is served and an additional original-action lawsuit is filed in the Ohio Supreme Court.

Separately, I am filing in the Ohio Supreme Court on Friday, Oct. 30, over the earlier requests the Sheriff’s Office has failed to fulfill. I expect to seek $2,000 in statutory damages in that case.

The full text of today’s request, as sent, is below.

Read the Oct. 28, 2026 records request (PDF)

The Fostoria Free Press has previously reported on the Oct. 30 records deadline and the pre-suit notice sent to the Sheriff’s Office. I will report any response from the office.

— Editor, The Fostoria Free Press