CLEVELAND – Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley announced that former East Cleveland police officers Von Harris, 53, and Demarkco Johnson, 29, pleaded guilty for accepting bribes in summer of 2018.

“Police officers are held to a higher standard and these officers violated the oath they swore to uphold. We are sending a stern warning that public corruption of any kind will not be tolerated in this county. The citizens of this county deserve better.”

Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley

On June 13, 2018, Von Harris and Demarkco Johnson, in police uniform, provided an individual with falsified police reports in exchange for two cash payments of $200 outside of the East Cleveland Police Department.

On June 20, Harris and Johnson provided an individual with falsified police reports in exchange for two cash payments of $200 outside of a gas station near Shaw Avenue and Euclid Avenue in East Cleveland.

On July 24, Harris and Johnson provided an individual with falsified police reports in exchange for two cash payments of $500 outside of a gas station near Shaw Avenue and Euclid Avenue in East Cleveland.

An investigation conducted with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed Harris and Johnson falsified police reports and took money from the individual for their personal use. The individual planned to file an insurance claim worth over $10,000 with the falsified police reports.

Von Harris and Demarkco Johnson pleaded guilty to the following charge:

  • One count of Bribery

They also permanently forfeited their OPOTA certification.

They will be sentenced on February 21, 2023, at 9:30 a.m.