Former Summit Co. deputy released for having sex with an inmate also suspected of smuggling drugs into prison

SUMMIT COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO) – New findings in 19 investigations first reported in August, which involved former Summit County deputy April Woodside, who was fired for having sex with an inmate in 2022.

The investigation into this case has been ongoing for over two years.

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

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

Meanwhile, a former member of the sheriff’s command staff is speaking out, claiming SCSO swept the investigation under the rug.

He recently filed a written complaint with the Justice Department, hoping it will investigate what he now calls a blatant 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.

During this time, Woodside was assigned to work at the Summit County Jail, where inmate Jordan Schwertner was serving a drug sentence.

Reports indicate that Schwertner and Woodside soon began a sexual relationship – which she admitted to doing – after she invoked her Garrity rights during an internal affairs investigation.

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

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

“In the cell,” Woodside said.

The jail’s shift commander at the time told 19 deputies that he also suspected Woodside was smuggling drugs into the jail.

“I had a deputy come to me from the day shift and state that he thought she was selling drugs to inmates or giving drugs to inmates in the pod,” said Charles, a former SCSO lieutenant.

Charles resigned from SCSO on October 18, 2024 – after nearly 25 years of service. He still works in law enforcement, so he asked 19 Investigates 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?” asked Dellinger:

“No, I didn’t do it, I didn’t do it,” Woodside insisted. “I don’t know where he… he said he got it from one of the trustees. I don’t know how he did it. I didn’t introduce it.

However, according to Schwertner – she he did.

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

He says that a few days before Woodside was released, officers raided his cell. When Schwertner was asked what officers seized, he recalled the items.

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

19 The investigation obtained part of the Woodside investigation that began in October 2022. SCSO says the case is still ongoing.

Deputies reportedly collected contraband – similar to the items Schwertner recalled – the week Woodside was fired.

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

The report also named Woodside as the sole suspect.

We do not know whether these items were ever tested to confirm they were drugs. We know that neither Woodside nor Schwertner have been charged in connection with this case.

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

Ohio Revised Code § Chapter 2907 and § Chapter 2921.36 states that it is a third-degree crime to have sex with or provide drugs to an inmate.

19 Researches previously reported Woodside was fired for having an affair with Schwertner. However, we do not know what happened to the suspected drugs.

In October 2022, Dellinger wrote: “While the investigation has not been closed, there is no ongoing criminal investigation at this time.”

According to a report dated December 1, 2022, Chief Investigator Kirk Hostetler closed the Woodside investigation.

However, SCSO tells 19 Investigates that is the case Still Open.

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

Now Charles is concerned about whether this case will be properly investigated.

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

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

We then contacted BCI to request the test results and received a response via email.

Therefore, if SCSO never sent these products to BCI for testing, we may never know for sure whether they were drugs.

Meanwhile, SCSO quietly released Woodside in October 2022.

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

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

“Working at 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 contacted Woodside but received no response.

Meanwhile, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice states that it is currently reviewing a complaint filed by Charles online.