Cleveland Cop Failed To Reopen Rape Case After DNA Match: Police

CLEVELAND — A Cleveland police officer has been accused of lying to prosecutors and ignoring a DNA match on a rape suspect.

Detective Charles McNeeley, 52, was placed on restricted duty on Wednesday, Cleveland police announced. He has been accused of falsification and dereliction of duty in Cleveland Municipal Court.

McNeeley is accused of lying to prosecutors about a victim's statement and then closing a case and not reopening it despite getting a DNA match on a rape suspect, police said. The initial rape was reported in 2019, Cleveland police said.

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Cleveland police's internal affairs unit began looking into McNeeley in 2020.

McNeeley was hired by Cleveland police in 1998. He was most recently assigned to the homicide unit but was working with the sex crimes and child abuse unit during the alleged offenses, police said.