Former Millersville mayor charged with fraud in connection to city fire department remodel

In the latest controversy in a string of controversies dating back to the beginning of this year for the City of Millersville, former Mayor Tim Lassiter was arrested Tuesday on document and permit fraud related to a remodeling project his company did on the city's fire department.

Lassiter was arrested around 9 p.m. Tuesday at his home in the 1300 block of Williamson Road. He is charged with two counts of criminal simulation.

Assistant Police Chief Shawn Taylor said Wednesday that Lassiter's arrest is part of operation clean sweep. More arrests are possible as part of the investigation because the department has called in criminal forensic auditors and the state comptroller's office to look into other public officials and the allocation of funds for the project, Taylor said.

Lassiter's arrest is tied to documents and permits related to his construction company's remodeling project of the city's fire department, which failed a fire marshal code inspection, Taylor explained.

"We have to have a company come in and fix it," Taylor said. "It will be cheaper to have the entire remodel ripped out."

Fixing the remodeled project — which was done during the 2022-2023 fiscal year budget — will cost between $200,000 to $250,00, he said.

A spokesperson for the state fire marshal's office declined to confirm if the fire department failed an inspection.

The Tennessean was told to submit a records request for related inspections, and the spokesperson said the fire marshal's office has seven days to respond.

Reach reporter Craig Shoup by email at cshoup@gannett.com and on X @Craig_Shoup. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to www.tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Ex-Millersville mayor charged with fraud after fire department remodel