An Ohio man who allegedly took money from a South Charleston daycare center and then never performed the work he promised has had 12 consumer complaints filed against his company since 2010, most for a similar reason, according to South Charleston police.
Christopher Michael Hardin's company, American Safety Surface & Recreation Co., was paid $15,500 in 2012 for playground construction at Oakhurst 1st Presbyterian Child Development Center at 508 2nd Ave., but never performed the work, according to a criminal complaint filed in Kanawha County Magistrate Court.
Hardin, 34, of Strongsville, Ohio, is charged with obtaining money by false pretenses.
His company pours rubberized playground surfaces to prevent injuries in children, according to South Charleston Detective Jeremy Thompson.
Thompson was assigned the case on June 26. He said he spoke to someone at the child development center, who told him Hardin would always make excuses, such as "supply issues" or "trouble with the general contractor."
"They were back and forth with Hardin trying to get him to come and fix it or return the money," Thompson said. "It was always the same thing."
Since Hardin was arrested last Thursday, police have learned there were 12 complaints filed against Hardin's company with the Ohio attorney general.
Thompson said there were 10 complaints for payment of services never completed, one complaint for overpayment and one for not honoring a warranty. He said other complaints came from Milton, New York; Ogden, Utah; Plainview, New York; and New York City; as well as elsewhere in Louisiana, Ohio and California.
Thompson said the complaints were only recently forward to the prosecutor in Medina County, Ohio, where the business is registered.
"They're looking into it," Thompson said.
Dean Holman, the Medina County prosecutor, did not return a call Thursday afternoon.
Thompson said the South Charleston allegation is the only one that has resulted in a criminal charge. He believes police may have told other complainants that the allegations were civil matters.
Thompson has been in contact with the FBI about taking on the case. "I've got to finish my report and then forward it to them so they can review it," he said.
Reach Erin Beck at erin.beck@wvgazette.com, 304-348-5163, Facebook.com/erinbeckwv, or follow @erinbeckwv on Twitter.