On June 18, a Lorain County grand jury indicted Lorain police officer Lynnwood McGrier, 33, on numerous charges of doing unlawful searches on a law enforcement database and then using the information to contact and harass a woman. The indictment, which includes felony and misdemeanor charges, comes amid an internal department inquiry and has sparked local interest because McGrier formerly worked as a school resource officer. He remains on paid administrative leave as the criminal matter proceeds through city court.
According to The Morning Journal, McGrier is charged with four charges of unlawful use of the Law Enforcement Automated Data System, four counts of unauthorized use of computer property, all of which are classified as fifth-degree crimes, and three counts of telecommunications harassment. According to the site, he was detained by the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office on June 23 and freed from jail on a $25,000 bond.
McGrier pled not guilty on June 25 at an arraignment in Lorain Municipal Court, and a judge ordered him not to contact the alleged victim, according to court records. According to the Chronicle-Telegram, he was placed on paid administrative leave in December 2025, and department officials would to comment further while the inquiry is ongoing.
The allegations claim unauthorized access to LEADS and other protected law enforcement systems, which Ohio considers to be misuse of criminal justice information. According to the Ohio LEADS FAQ, misuse of the Law Enforcement Automated Data System may result in criminal prosecution, and section 2913.04 of the Ohio Revised Code concerns unlawful computer or gateway access. A fifth-degree felony carries a six- to 12-month prison sentence and a $2,500 fine, according to ORC 2929.14, though courts sometimes consider community control sanctions in lower-level crimes for first-time offenders.
McGrier is due for a pretrial hearing in Lorain Municipal Court on July 6, at which counsel will determine the discovery timetable and future court dates. Whether the case results in convictions will depend on what prosecutors can prove about purpose and whether any of the database searches were allowed.
McGrier’s position as a school resource officer is stated on the Lorain Police Department’s website, which has made the case particularly sensitive locally. Residents and school officials said they are closely monitoring the criminal and internal investigations.
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