Mistrial declared in case against former Parma police officer

CLEVELAND -- A mistrial was declared as jury selection began in the trial against a former Parma police officer accused of raping a drunk and disoriented woman.

According to the court, the prosecutor assigned to the case was ill, forcing the judge to declare a mistrial and set a new trial for a later date.

Forty-four-year-old Mark McCombs is charged with rape, sexual battery, kidnapping, gross sexual imposition, tampering with evidence and dereliction of duty.

Cuyahoga County prosecutors say he's accused of taking sexual advantage of a 23-year-old woman inside his police cruiser in the early morning hours of April 1st.

The prosecution says another officer looked on from a second cruiser.

The city fired McCombs and the other officer on May 26th, about two weeks after the woman told police what happened.

McCombs' lawyer -- Henry Hilow -- says his client denies any criminal wrongdoing.