Cuyahoga County weights and measures inspector accused of faking reports on price checks, scanners

BEACHWOOD, Ohio - A Cuyahoga County weights and measures inspector falsified at least ten days worth of inspection reports, according to Nailah Byrd, the Cuyahoga County Inspector General.

Byrd said Lisa Rogers, 38, submitted inspection reports for price scanners and scales at suburban mall stores, coffee shops and grocery stores that included fake signatures, incorrect prices, and price checks on products not sold in the stores.

"We realized immediately that those inspection reports were untrue. The signatures she had on the reports of employees having spoken to her no longer worked at those locations. They had never spoken to her," said Byrd.

For example, Rogers submitted an inspection report for Godiva Chocolatier in Beachwood Place Mall. The report says Rogers inspected a scale at the store that the store replaced last year.

At the cosmetics store Lush, Rogers reported price checks on items the store does not sell on its shelves, according to Byrd.

Byrd said a whistleblower brought Rogers' behavior to her office's attention.

"When instances or allegations are brought to my attention, my office will investigate and we make recommendations that discipline be carried out and things change," she said.

Byrd said her investigation into Rogers' reports also revealed there is little oversight of the county's 7 weights and measures inspectors.

The inspectors drive their own vehicles, choose the stores they inspect and are not required to come to the office every day.

Byrd has recommended inspectors drive county vehicles equipped with GPS, be required to check in at the office on a daily basis and have a set schedule for inspections.

Byrd said County Executive Ed FitzGerald supports her recommendations.

"I think we've done a very good job of telling folks that there's been a culture change. And we are not going to tolerate it. It's not the way we do business any more. It's a new day and I think we are headed in the right direction," she said.

Weights and measures inspectors are supposed to help protect shoppers from being overcharged by checking scanners and scales at stores.

NewsChannel5's investigators called Rogers and tried to reach her at her Broadview Heights home Thursday. She did not return our call or answer her door.

Rogers faces a disciplinary hearing regarding the accusations she falsified reports Friday. He could be fired as a result of the inspector general's findings.