Ex-city council member accused of using derogatory language now facing sexual assault allegations

ENGLEWOOD — A seat sat empty at Englewood City Council’s meeting Tuesday after a member resigned.

Board members voted to accept the resignation of Darren Sawmiller Tuesday night.

“I prepared a speech thinking that he was going to be here, obviously too cowardly to face victims and people that were accusing him,” Wally Dolinski said during public comment.

“Other than disgusted, I don’t know what else to say,” Mayor Thomas Franz said.

This came hours after Sawmiller sent the city his resignation letter that said in part:

>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Vice mayor calls for local city council member to resign after alleged ‘derogatory’ phone call

“In the last few months, I have had many personal attacks and absurd allegations against myself and family. Do not take my silence as guilt or think that I am unconcerned.”

News Center 7′s I-Team talked with a woman earlier this month who claimed Sawmiller used racist and sexist language about a family member during a phone call that was recorded.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Brad Daugherty, the city’s vice mayor, claimed two women recently reached out to him accusing Sawmiller of sexual harassment and assault.

>> I-TEAM: New details uncovered about ‘derogatory’ phone call made by local council member

He read the statements they sent him.

Dolinksi has a podcast and said so far eight women have reached out to him since the summer with their own accusations.

“It’s the things that he’s done physically to women, the intimidation, the calling them names, you know, talking down to them, telling them that nobody will believe them,” he said.

News Center 7 tried calling Sawmiller Tuesday night, but he did not answer.

Franz shared what’s next for the investigation against Sawmiller.

He said there will be an investigation by law enforcement into the allegations and that Englewood’s police chief has called an outside agency to investigate.

News Center 7 reached out to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations to see if they have been selected as the outside agency, they said they could not confirm this.

We will continue following this story and update as new information is available.

©2023 Cox Media Group