The Alliance Police Department has changed Sgt. Ethan Griffith’s employment status from paid administrative leave to unpaid administrative leave following his arrest this week on a felony child endangerment charge, Police Chief Akenra X announced in a public statement Wednesday.
The announcement marks the department’s first formal public response to Griffith’s latest arrest, which stems from allegations that he struck a 4-year-old boy during an incident July 26 at White House Fruit Farm in Mahoning County.
Griffith, 27, was arrested Tuesday after the Goshen Police District filed a charge of endangering children, a second-degree felony under Ohio Revised Code 2919.22(B)(1). He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
In a statement posted to the department’s Facebook page, Chief X said the allegations are serious while emphasizing that Griffith is entitled to due process.
“These are serious allegations,” the chief wrote. “While such conduct is completely out of character based on Sgt. Griffith’s prior service, that does not diminish the seriousness of the charges. The criminal justice system exists to fairly determine the facts, and it is imperative that we allow the courts to fulfill their responsibility.”
Chief X said the department must follow the provisions of the Fraternal Order of Police collective bargaining agreement, Ohio civil service laws and other applicable state statutes when determining disciplinary action.
Immediately after Griffith’s June arrest in Mahoning County on OVI-related charges, he was placed on paid administrative leave pending both the criminal investigation and internal proceedings.
Following Tuesday’s felony child endangerment arrest, however, city officials “made the immediate decision to change his status from paid administrative leave to unpaid administrative leave until further notice,” the chief said.
Chief X also said the department’s thoughts remain with the child at the center of the allegations.
“Above all else, our thoughts remain with the child at the center of these allegations,” he wrote. “Regardless of the legal proceedings that lie ahead, there is an innocent child whose well-being must remain at the forefront of our minds.”
The chief concluded by asking the public for patience while both the criminal case and the department’s administrative process move forward.
“I understand the public’s desire for swift accountability,” he wrote. “I ask only for your patience and your trust as these matters proceed through the judicial system and the administrative processes required by law.”
According to the Goshen Police District, investigators allege Griffith grabbed the 4-year-old by one arm and dragged him into a parking lot after the child was “acting up” while visiting his mother and Griffith at White House Fruit Farm.
Police said the child struck Griffith near his left eye. Investigators allege Griffith then struck the child twice in the face, causing swelling, bruising and welts. Officers said the injuries remained visible more than 24 hours later, and medical personnel determined they were consistent with being struck.
The Mahoning County Court No. 3 prosecutor authorized the felony child endangerment charge following the investigation. Goshen police confirmed Griffith was taken into custody Tuesday.
The child’s father later publicly shared his account of the incident on Facebook, saying Griffith called him before the child was returned home and admitted, “Karter was misbehaving at White House Fruit Farm and he kicked me in the face so I smacked him in the face.”
The father also shared photographs that appeared to show bruising and red marks on the child’s face.
The latest allegation comes less than two months after Griffith was arrested June 7 following an off-duty crash investigated by Austintown police. In that case, authorities alleged he crashed his pickup truck into a utility pole before fleeing on foot.
He was charged with operating a vehicle while impaired, obstructing official business, failure to control a vehicle and having weapons while intoxicated after investigators reported finding a loaded Glock 19 handgun and an unloaded Springfield Hellcat 9mm pistol inside the vehicle.
Griffith has served with the Alliance Police Department since 2022 and is the son of former Alliance Police Chief Scott Griffith.
The criminal case filed by the Goshen Police District remains separate from any internal employment or disciplinary action by the Alliance Police Department.
