A special prosecutor has been named in a case involving South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s chief of staff, Kathryn Roos.
Neighbors alleged last summer that city workers illegally performed work on Roos’ home at taxpayer expense. The neighbor snapped a picture of the alleged work and sent a copy to a local community activist who presented the evidence to the Common Council. The matter was referred to the city’s legal department, which asked the Indiana State Police to get involved in the matter.
The Indiana State Police completed their investigation in December 2014. The final report from that investigation was given to former prosecutor Michael Dvorak, whose term just recently expired. At that point, Dvorak petitioned the St. Joseph County Circuit Court to appoint a special prosecutor in the case.
According to the St. Joseph County prosecutor’s office, the Circuit Court granted the petition and appointed David O. Thomas as special prosecutor. Thomas is a Senior Prosecuting Attorney for the state of Indiana. However, the petition was sealed, preventing the prosecutor’s office from discussing the case. Thomas has filed to unseal the petition.
Roos has denied any wrongdoing and remains the mayor’s chief of staff.
We will have more on this case as it develops.
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