Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Arrest Warrants Taken Out For Kelly Marlow, Robert Trim

Marlow has been charged with making false statements to the police when a resident alleged Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo tried to run her over after a school board meeting.

UPDATE on 7/7/13 @2:51 p.m.: Cherokee resident Barbara Knowles turned herself into the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center earlier today and is now free after posting a $11,800 bond. 

UPDATE @ 7/6/13 @ 2:04 p.m
.:  Both Cherokee County School Board Member Kelly Marlow and her partner Robert Trim turned themselves into the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center at 8 a.m. Saturday morning. They both posted a $11,200 bond and were released around 10 a.m.
 
Resident Barbara Knowles has not turned herself in to authorities, according to Pacer Cordry, community outreach officer with the Canton Police Department.

ORIGINAL STORY

Cherokee County School Board Member Kelly Marlow is once again in hot water — and this time, it's with the law.

The Canton Police Department took out the warrants against Marlow and her political advisor Robert Trim, and both are charged with making false statements after resident Barbara Knowles accused Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo of trying to run her over with his vehicle as he was leaving the June 13 board meeting. 

Knowles filed the incident report on the night of the board meeting, alleging Petruzielo almost ran them over as they were crossing East Main Street in front of The Painted Pig Tavern. 

"Knowles admittedly said that they crossed the street illegally and not in a crosswalk," the department's press release said. "Knowles indicated that the vehicle that had almost struck them was identified as a white BMW SUV and being driven by Cherokee County School Superintendent Frank Petruzielo."

The report was then turned over to the department's Criminal Investigations Division, and "after a thorough investigation," detectives were able to gleam that Knowles made a false report and all three made false statements.        

Canton Police Chief Bob Merchant said Knowles has been charged with making a false report of a crime and making false statements while both Trim and Marlow are only charged with making false statements. 

"We determined their allegations were totally false," Merchant said.

The police chief noted the charge of making false statements is a felony while making a false report of a crime is a misdemeanor. 

"They are active arrest warrnats and they need to turn themselves in," he added. 

Petruzielo on Friday said the allegation had always been unfounded.

"As I indicated when I was informed of the report being filed against me, this is a very serious allegation that has no basis in fact," the superintendent said.

Stay with Patch for updates. 

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