No criminal charges will be filed against fired Truesdale Police Chief Ken Black or police officer David Ingle following an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, according to Prosecutor Mike Wright. Both officers, who were dismissed in November over job performance issues, were questioned on allegations of harboring a fugitive that dated back to May 15, 2009, when the investigation was requested by Wright. A reviewed of the police department's cell phone records showed that Black and Ingle had made contact with the suspect, identified as Brian Schoelhamer, earlier in the day prior to him being arrested on outstanding warrants, according to the patrol's report. A review of phone records also showed that Schoelhamer, while evading authorities, made a four-minute phone call to Black's private residence in Troy. Both admitted to authorities, during questioning by Patrol Sgt. Jeff Paul later that evening, that they were aware that Schoelhamer was wanted, but denied any wrongdoing in helping him elude police. Schoelhamer, who also was interviewed by Paul on July 7, stated he was involved in a messy custody dispute since his ex-wife filed for divorce on Nov. 16, 2007. Between March 5, 2007, and March 15, 2008, four protection of orders had been filed against him. According to court records, Schoelhamer twice violated those orders, on April 22, 2008, and Oct. 18, 2008, and had warrants for his arrest following both incidents. The patrol's investigation, started May 15 and completed July 7, was released by the prosecutor's office to The Record following a Sunshine Law request last week after Wright said the case had been closed. "Although it appears the conduct of the officers was inappropriate, there is not sufficient evidence to lead to charges," Wright told The Record. Messages left for Black and Ingle were not returned by press time. According to the report, Schoelhamer was being sought by the Highway Patrol on May 15 and was believed be at his parents' house located at 20958 South Highway 47 outside of Warrenton. Ingle told Paul he had talked to Schoelhamer either two or three times earlier that day with the last phone call at 9:35 a.m. Ingle, who told the patrol that he and Schoelhamer had been friends for 15 years, said he "believed" that he and Schoelhamer were talking about Ingle's marital issues between his wife and his mother. He said no information was provided concerning an arrest attempt. Schoelhamer also placed a phone call to Black's residence. Black told Paul that he did not speak directly with Schoelhamer earlier that day. Black stated his wife may have talked to Schoelhamer, but wasn't sure. Black acknowledged that he talked with Schoelhamer on a nearly daily basis and, according to the report, Schoelhamer admitted that he had rode past his estranged wife's residence in a Truesdale police vehicle driven by Black. When Black and Ingle were interviewed by Paul, they both denied tipping off Schoelhamer to the patrol's whereabouts and stated they were willing to submit to a polygraph examination. Schoelhamer was eventually taken into custody May 15. He later pled guilty and was sentenced to two years of probation on the charges of violating the orders of protection. Schoelhamer's mother, Barbara Schoelhamer, was charged with hindering prosecution stemming from the May 15 incident. She has since pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year of supervised probation beginning Dec. 21, 2009. According to the patrol's report, Schoelhamer told investigators he believed he was being persecuted by local political officials who allegedly were backing his ex-wife. In the interview with the patrol, Black said he also believed that Schoelhamer was being "persecuted." When asked to comment on the report, Truesdale Mayor Bruer repeated his earlier statement that the investigation did not lead to either Black or Ingle's dismissal and that they were let go because they didn't meet expectations set by city officials. Though both officers denied conversations related to job performance were held, Bruer said at that time of the firing that they were aware that improvements needed to be made. At an August board of aldermen meeting, the police department was criticized by city officials and the city attorney for the failure to provide enough evidence in cases when further legal action was warranted, particularly when photos were not taken of assault victims. Aldermen voiced their displeasure with what they observed was an increase in the number of calls handled by the department. "The termination was based on previous situations that the board wasn't happy about," Bruer remarked. Truesdale aldermen unanimously voted Nov. 18 to terminate Black and Ingle. The board agreed to pay a combined $9,831.25 as part of a severance package that ended Dec. 31. Both Black and Ingle said they were "blindsided" by the board's action and said no disciplinary action had been taken against them during their tenure with the city. The 57-year-old Black had been police chief in Truesdale since 1996. He formerly served as police chief in Hawk Point and Foristell. Ingle, 40, had been employed full time in Truesdale since August 2008 and had served as a part-time officer since 2004. Since the removal of Black and Ingle - the department's only full-time officers - police calls are being handled by part-time officers with assistance from the Warren County Sheriff's Department.