Dayton Officer Erica Cash enters not guilty pleas

A Dayton police officer charged for allegedly interfering with a Trotwood police investigation pleaded not guilty to all counts Tuesday.

Officer Erica S. Cash, 35, faces two misdemeanor counts of obstruction and one misdemeanor count of falsification for allegedly hindering Trotwood officers from locating and interviewing Jermaine Griffin, 29, following a fatal hit-and-run crash Oct. 19. The two were allegedly involved in a sexual relationship.

The charges were filed in Montgomery County Western Division Court June 25. Through her attorney, Anthony Circero, she entered not guilty pleas prior to her arraignment, which was scheduled for July 9. Cicero also filed a motion to dismiss the case, and requested a pre-trial hearing.

Cash is on restricted duty with Dayton police pending the outcome of the criminal case. An internal investigation will then be conducted by the department's Professional Standards Bureau to determine if Cash violated Dayton police policy, said Maj. Matthew Carper.

Cash allegedly made false statements during official proceedings on Oct. 19 and Dec. 29, and impeded or hampered an official during the performance of their duties, according to court documents.

The charges are connected to a fatal crash that occurred at 1:40 a.m. Oct. 19 on Little Richmond Road. Patricia Smith, 65, of Trotwood, was driving a Chevy Cavalier Guenther Road when she pulled out in front of a GMC Yukon reportedly driven by Griffin as he traveled north on Little Richmond. The Yukon collided with the Cavalier on the driver's side, killing Smith and injuring the passenger, 58-year-old David Battles. Griffin allegedly fled on foot, according to police.

Police checked for Griffin at an address on North Mathison Street in Dayton, but were unable to locate him. However, they learned Cash was at this address at about 6 a.m., reportedly to help a male who was having difficulty breathing, according to a police report. However, Cash was never dispatched to the residence, and later told Trotwood police that she was contacted by a citizen that a teenage boy needed help.

According to a police report, Cash called for a medic at about 6:08 a.m., but then canceled it two minutes later, and remained on scene for another 35 minutes. She later contacted Trotwood police to say she had Griffin and would bring him in, telling officers she located him while off-duty, the report stated.

Witnesses told Trotwood police Cash was with Griffin at the home on Mathison early that morning. Phone records showed Griffin called Cash eight times between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Oct. 19. One call was more than three minutes long. Cash also called his phone once during that time, according to the police report.

Griffin had a suspended license and was driving in excess of 80 mph in a 45 mph zone, the crash investigation concluded.

Police also recovered a digital scale containing marijuana residue from inside the Yukon. He's been indicted on felony charges of failing to stop after an accident that caused serious injury and death. Griffin remains at large.