10-4-2011 Ohio:A local podiatrist who committed suicide earlier this month is the subject of an ongoing investigation about possibly pandering obscene materials involving a minor, police said.
Dr. James Revelas, 51, of Norwalk, was found dead about 9 a.m. Oct. 7 of what authorities say was a self-inflicted gun shot wound to the chest. Authorities have said foul play is not suspected.
About one month before Revelas killed himself, the Norwalk Police Department received a complaint from a "concerned parent about an incident that occurred in the city of Norwalk," according to a one-sentence police report. Detective Sgt. Dave Pigman's report doesn't elaborate on the nature of the incident or list Revelas as a suspect, but the report indicates the incident allegedly happened Sept. 8 and classifies it under "sex offenses and pandering obscenity."
Chief Dave Light was asked if Revelas is the subject of an investigation on pandering obscene materials involving a minor.
"That's the allegation," the chief said.
While he didn't elaborate, Light said the citizen's complaint "sparked the start of the investigation." He said the probe had just started when Revelas committed suicide.
The chief said police have "a job to do" and that is to determine if a crime has been committed.
Detective Sgt. Jim Fulton, in an interview last week with the Reflector, made a similar comment.
"Even though he (Revelas) is deceased, we are going to complete our investigation," Fulton said. "At this point, we don't know if a crime was committed. We have to evaluate the evidence."
As first reported by the Reflector, the investigation started soon after the complaint was filed. A computer expert with the Ohio Bureau of Identification and Investigation (BCI&I) visited Norwalk that week.
Undisclosed evidence, which was submitted to BCI&I about four weeks ago, is being processed by the state agency.
Once the results are back from BCI&I, Light said "we'll go over every bit of it."
"We're at a complete standstill until we get the results back," he said. "We want to wrap this one up as soon as possible."
Light was asked if the investigation had an influence on Revelas committing suicide.
"No comment," he said.
Police were notified of the doctor's suicide when a man, who is employed to check on the security of the former Big Lots building, found Revelas' body at the U.S. 20 facility.
Revelas practiced in Norwalk, Sandusky and Bellevue.
"He had operated on six people from our department ... in a professional capacity," Light said.
"I wouldn't just say there was nothing but good things to say about him, but outstanding things," Light said. "He wasn't just a doctor, he was in touch with the whole community."
Revelas treated Detective Seth Fry for a personal foot injury. When the doctor learned that Fry later had a work-related knee injury, Revelas and his wife brought the detective a dinner, Light said.
"That's the kind of guy he was. ... That's very, very thoughtful of him," the chief added.
When the police department learned about Revelas' suicide, Light said "a lot of the guys" were upset by the news.
"We've all been taken back a bit," he said.
Born Sept. 4, 1960 in Youngstown, Revelas came to the area in 1990 from Sheffield Lake.
Considered a virtuoso violinist, he was a former member of the Youngstown Symphony, Bellevue Symphony and Heidelberg Orchestra. Revelas also enjoyed playing Greek music in multiple groups and bands throughout the country and enjoyed playing golf. ..Source.. by Cary Ashby
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