CLEVELAND — A Cleveland police sergeant has been indicted for allegedly using city computers to message thousands of women on social media, according to court records.
An indictment filed March 18 says Michael Rybarczyk, 58, is facing three counts of unauthorized use of property by the state.
Rybarczyk was previously placed on restricted duty after he was charged with 11 counts of soliciting prostitution in February. An affidavit filed Feb. 4, 2019 states that Rybarczyk offered money in exchange for oral sex from various women at 3895 W. 130th Street, the First district building, on at least 11 different occasions from July 28, 2018 to Dec. 2, 2018.
The city of Cleveland has suspended Rybarczyk without pay, according to a news release issued by Chief Calvin Williams.
The indictment also states that Rybarczyk used the police department's database to view photos and information on women for personal reasons unrelated to any investigations.
The alleged offenses occurred between June 2018 and January 2019, the indictment states.
In December 2018, Rybarczyk is accused of using the police department's Law Enforcement Automated Data System (LEADS) to look up information on a woman named Tara without consent from a manager. The indictment says Rybarczyk searched for photos and personal information on the woman by looking up her driver's license.
A similar offense allegedly occurred around January 13, 2019, when Rybarczyk used LEADS to look up the driver's license information of a woman identified as Caitlyn, despite there being no cases involving the woman.
Rybarczyk is also accused of using department computers to send messages to more than 2,300 women on social media while he was on duty. The indictment states that the city of Cleveland lost $1,000 in services because of Rybarczyk's actions.
The city of Cleveland said Rybarczyk is a 29-year veteran of the Cleveland force and was most recently assigned to the city's First district.
According to the Cleveland Division of Police website, Rybarczyk received a Distinguished Service Medal for his role in a 2012 arrest.