A former Lorain County 911 dispatcher has been taken into custody after a Grand Jury found probable cause to charge him with unauthorized use of a law enforcement database.
According to a news release issued March 18, 2026, deputies with the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office took Greggory D. Byrd of Olmsted Township into custody after he surrendered himself at the Lorain County Jail.
The charge stems from an investigation that began in January. Sheriff’s detectives determined that Byrd accessed the Ohio LEADS system while working as a dispatcher for Lorain County 911 and used it for purposes not related to law enforcement.
Investigators say Byrd used his computer terminal to obtain information about a woman with whom he shares a child. The inquiry was not connected to any official investigation or law enforcement purpose.
The alleged violation was reported to the Sheriff’s Office by an anonymous source.
Sheriff Jack Hall stated that the integrity of law enforcement databases is taken seriously due to the sensitive nature of the information they contain. He said an employee using that data for personal reasons violates public trust.
After being notified of the situation on January 22, Sheriff’s Office personnel contacted Lorain County 911 Director Kurt Scholl to confirm the incident. Detectives then opened an investigation and later determined a criminal offense had occurred.
The findings were submitted to Lorain County Prosecutor Tony Cillo for review, and the case was presented to a Grand Jury, which resulted in the charge.
Unauthorized use of a law enforcement automated data system is a felony of the fifth degree under Ohio law.
It is not known at this time whether Byrd remains employed or if additional charges could be filed. Further details about court proceedings have not yet been released.