CLEVELAND — The head of Cuyahoga County's Human Resources Department resigned Monday, more than a year after Douglas Dykes was indicted by a Grand Jury.
In his resignation letter, Dykes, the county's Chief Talent Officer, said he believes "it's time for the County to bring on its next Human Resources leader."
"My resignation is not because I have done anything wrong," wrote Dykes, "but I must ensure the sanity and health of my family, and my family must come first at this point."
Dykes was indicted in January 2019 on charges of theft in office, tampering with records, obstructing official business, and falsification.
County corruption investigators say he improperly converted moving expenses into an illegal bonus for a former county employee and then lied about it.
Earlier this month, prosecutors accused Dykes of taking part in the firing of the county's Office of Budget and Management Director Maggie Keenan in what prosecutors called "an act of witness intimidation and retaliation." According to court records, Keenan is "an important witness in the criminal investigation of Dykes' conduct."
Then, last week, prosecutors issued subpoenas for bank records, and video recordings after Dykes' attorney admitted his client tried to repay the county for the improper bonus he's accused of giving the former employee. During a court appearance, prosecutors said the payment could constitute forgery since it listed the former employee, and not Dykes, as the "remitter" of the funds.
Dykes has pleaded not guilty. His trial is scheduled to begin in April.
According to his resignation letter, the 55-year-old ran the county's HR department for the last four years.
His salary was $179,982.40 a year according to a county spokeswoman.
The county has named Holly Woods, Director of Benefits and Compensation for the county's HR department as Dykes' interim replacement.
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