Worker Seen Making Food Runs, Spending Hours At Home On City's Dime

A worker for the Columbus Department of Development's Housing Division has resigned after Watchdog10 found him taking fast-food trips, doughnut runs and spending hours at home while charging the city.

Watchdog10's Paul Aker started investigating after someone called the 10TV News tip line.

Our cameras followed the worker from his city office into the field.  More often than not, the field was actually a doughnut shop, Aker reported.

The worker, whom Watchdog10 chose not to name, was seen at the doughnut shop on numerous occasions. 

In one instance, the worker began his day at the office.  Then, he made a quick trip to Burger King at 8:23 a.m. and returned to the office.  At 10:32 a.m., the worker went to Yum-ee Doughnuts and stayed there for 53 minutes.  Our cameras saw him then head home, where he stayed until 12:40 p.m.  The worker spent more than two hours on the clock but not on the job.

The time sheet that was pulled by Watchdog10 showed that the worker claimed he spent eight hours at a home he was to inspect at the very same time he was at the doughnut shop.

On another work day, the worker was seen leaving the office in his personal car at 11:35 a.m.  He went straight home and stayed there the rest of the day.  His time card said that he worked a full eight hours.

On another day, the worker was seen at Yum-ee Doughnuts at 10 a.m.  He then went to his house at 10:44 a.m. and stayed there until 11:37 a.m.  On his log, he claimed to have inspected a house on Wisconsin Avenue at the same time Watchdog10 recorded him taking his doughnut break.

Watchdog10 took its findings to Rita Parise, the Columbus Housing Administrator.

"I think it is our responsibility to inquire with (the worker) how he explains that discrepancy," Parise said.  "I'm very disturbed.  I'm very disappointed because the work that we're doing with this program is extremely important for folks who have children who are either lead-poisoned or in danger of being lead poisoned. This is not acceptable."

Parise immediately launched a personnel investigation after Watchdog10 showed her the surveillance video.

"I am embarrassed and disappointed," Parise said.