Ex-deputy pleads guilty in 'drunken' attack on immigrant

Daniel Lajack admitted to attempted abduction after he and another officer targeted a man they believed was undocumented.

Feb. 9, 2026 at 12:31pm

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A former Northeast Ohio deputy has pleaded guilty to attempted abduction after prosecutors said he and another officer attacked a man they believed was an undocumented immigrant at a bar in 2024. Daniel Lajack pleaded guilty to the fourth-degree felony charge in Medina County Court of Common Pleas.

Why it matters

The case highlights concerns about law enforcement officers abusing their power and targeting immigrants, even those who are U.S. citizens, as well as the need for better training and accountability measures to prevent such incidents.

The details

On April 26, 2024, Lajack and his co-defendant Donald Kopchak, who were both officers serving on federal task forces, are accused of attacking a truck driver they believed was an undocumented immigrant while at Buzzards Roost bar in Hinckley Township. Prosecutors said the two officers accused the man, a U.S. citizen from Eritrea, of being in the country illegally and demanded to see his paperwork. When the man attempted to leave, the officers grabbed him, pinned him to the ground and put him in a leg lock until Brunswick police arrived.

  • On April 26, 2024, the alleged incident occurred at Buzzards Roost bar in Hinckley Township.
  • In August 2025, Lajack was indicted on four charges related to the incident.
  • In December 2024, Lajack resigned from his Lake County sheriff's deputy job in place of being fired.
  • Three weeks later, the Portage County Sheriff's Office hired Lajack.
  • After the indictment, Portage County placed Lajack on unpaid administrative leave, and he retired from the department in September.

The players

Daniel Lajack

A former Lake County sheriff's deputy who served on a Drug Enforcement Administration task force. He pleaded guilty to attempted abduction in the incident.

Donald Kopchak

A Cleveland Division of Police detective since 2007 who was Lajack's co-defendant. He is still fighting the abduction, ethnic intimidation and assault charges related to the incident.

The victim

A U.S. citizen from Eritrea who was a truck driver, and was targeted by Lajack and Kopchak who believed he was an undocumented immigrant.

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What they’re saying

“He's always wanted to accept responsibility for this. He's been ashamed since the start, for one drunken night he's going to regret forever.”

— Adam Chaloupka, Lajack's attorney

What’s next

Kopchak's trial on the abduction, ethnic intimidation and assault charges is scheduled to begin soon, and Lajack has agreed to testify if prosecutors request it as part of his plea deal.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for better training and accountability measures for law enforcement officers to prevent abuse of power and targeting of immigrants, even U.S. citizens, and the importance of officers being held responsible for their actions, even if they are committed while off-duty.