Florida court drops case against Boston Heights police chief after alleged victim dies

The battery charge against Boston Heights Police Chief Chad McArdle over a July incident in the Florida Keys was dropped last week.

According to a Nov. 2 court filing, the case was dropped after Joe T. Jones, a homeless man who was allegedly hurt by McArdle, died of "unrelated causes."

McArdle, 40, was charged with one count of misdemeanor battery after being accused of attacking Jones in July outside a bar in Key West, Florida. He had been scheduled to return to Florida for a Nov. 27 jury trial.

Paul Vargo, an assistant state attorney in Florida, said Jones died Oct. 18 of chronic respiratory failure. Jones also had prostate and lung cancer as well as cirrhosis of the liver, Vargo noted.

Boston Heights Mayor Bill Goncy said McArdle has not resumed his duties; the police chief was placed on paid leave following his arrest. The village will conduct an internal review into the matter before determining whether or when McArdle would be permitted to return to work, Goncy said.

Goncy said in an earlier interview that McArdle joined the department part-time in 2007. He became a full-time officer in 2013 and was promoted to sergeant four years later. McArdle was named interim police chief in 2019, and was hired as the police chief in 2020.

A records search turned up no previous criminal record, and a March 2021 performance review was complimentary, with all categories marked as "outstanding" or "very good." No record of any disciplinary action was found in his records, obtained through a public records request.

Alan Fowler, who was listed in the court records as McArdle's attorney, could not be reached for comment.

Reporter April Helms can be reached at ahelms@thebeaconjournal.com

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Charge dropped against Boston Heights police chief in Florida incident