Truck dealer has upcoming court dates

SANDUSKY — An owner and manager at a Sandusky truck dealership have future court dates in a criminal case relating to an EPA investigation. Christopher Andrews, owner of Ohio Truck Sales on George Street, and William Broski, a manager at the business, both have pretrial hearings set for July 7 and jury trials scheduled for Aug. 9. Both men, and the business itself, were indicted by an Erie County grand jury in November. Andrews, 33, of Sandusky, faces two felonies — tampering with evidence and illegal dumping of scrap tires — and misdemeanor falsification. Broski, also a 33-year-old city resident, was charged with felony tampering with evidence and misdemeanor falsification. Most of the charges relate to an Ohio EPA investigation at the business' former Perkins Township location in 2018. Prosecutors claim the business hid painting equipment and paint products from EPA investigators, who were there to look into a hazardous waste complaint. The EPA wrote that the business was not allowed to function as a commercial paint-spraying operation. Andrews' illegal tire dumping charge stems from an allegation at the business' current location on George Street. He allegedly dumped more than 100 scrap tires on neighboring property owned by Ohio Edison as "leverage in negotiating a purchase of the property," according to a bill of information. Both men pleaded not guilty at their initial court appearances in September. They were each booked into the jail in September for a day and were released on their own recognizance. Attorneys for Andrew previously told the Register that the allegations are the result of a vengeful former employee, though they did not clarify that statement. They said they expect their client to be vindicated.