The Indiana State Police Criminal Investigations Division Lowell Post initiated an investigation into ghost employment taking place in the county at the request of La Porte County Prosecutor Sean Fagan.
Long Beach Chief Marshal Mark Swistek contacted Prosecutor Fagan and reported irregularities in time being claimed by one of the officers that had been employed at the Long Beach Police Department.
Prosecutor Fagan requested the Indiana State Police to investigate the allegations January 25. During the investigation, police say it was determined that several irregularities had occurred in the work time being claimed by Officer Jason Yagelski. The investigation showed that Officer Yagelski had claimed hours worked at two different police departments at the same time, according to the report. This reportedly happened on numerous occasions resulting in him being paid several thousand dollars for hours not actually worked at the Pottawattomie Park Police Department, the Trail Creek Police Department, and the Long Beach Police Department.
Yagelski is the current Chief Marshal for the Pottawattomie Park Police Department, a former Deputy Marshal for Long Beach Police Department, and a former Deputy Marshal for the Trail Creek Police Department.
As a result of the investigation, Chief Marshal Yagelski has been charged by the La Porte County Prosecutor’s Office with two Level 6 Felony counts of ghost employment, two Level 6 Felony counts of official misconduct, and one Class A Misdemeanor count of fraud.
Yagelski has since posted bond after being booked at the La Porte County Jail.
All suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
