Mark Puente, Author at The Land

Mark Puente

Mark Puente is a staff writer leading investigative reporting efforts for The Marshall Project – Cleveland. Puente, a former truck driver, has worked for The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, The Baltimore Sun, the Tampa Bay Times and the Los Angeles Times. Puente is a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

Cuyahoga County prosecutor checking the credibility of Deputy Kasey Loudermilk after he was accused of lying

By Mark Puente & The Marshall Project ● Public Safety ● September 11, 2025

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office officials are questioning the credibility of Kasey Loudermilk, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department deputy who has been involved in high-speed chases that killed two bystanders and the driver of a fleeing car.

Cuyahoga County deputy involved in fatal chases accused of ‘lying’ in hiring process

By Mark Puente & The Marshall Project ● Public Safety ● August 28, 2025

Deputy Kasey Loudermilk lied and kept details off his application about other police forces disqualifying him, according to his personnel file.

High-speed chase video adds to controversy about Cuyahoga County Deputy

By Mark Puente, The Marshall Project, Tara Morgan & News 5 Cleveland ● Public Safety ● August 21, 2025

Deputy Isen Vajusi’s actions raise more questions about how the Downtown Safety Patrol polices Cleveland’s streets without much oversight.

Cuyahoga Judge Leslie Ann Celebrezze should be suspended for two years, board recommends

By Mark Puente & The Marshall Project ● Government ● August 5, 2025

The case now heads to the Ohio Supreme Court. An FBI probe still looms over Celebrezze and Mark Dottore, after Marshall Project – Cleveland reporting.

Who is in the Cuyahoga County Jail? Finally, there’s an app for that

By Mark Puente & The Marshall Project ● Public Safety ● July 31, 2025

After years of debate, ‘The Sheriff App’ will allow people to use a smartphone to see who is in the Cuyahoga County jail.

Cuyahoga deputy who shot at two teens was deemed unfit for suburban force

By Mark Puente, The Marshall Project, Tara Morgan & News 5 Cleveland ● Communities ● June 12, 2025

Deputy Isen Vajusi struggled with confidence, stress and field training before being forced out of the suburbs. He’s now on the sheriff’s downtown safety patrol.

Ohio lawmaker wants to require jails to report pregnancy outcomes

By Mark Puente, The Marshall Project, Scott Noll & News 5 Cleveland ● Government ● May 16, 2025

The Cleveland Democrat says “all babies should count,” — regardless of whether their mother is behind bars — to ensure access to healthcare for pregnant women.