In Lordstown, Cropper said, a woman later identified as Ermine Desir, came to a school to speak to union representatives who were in the building that day.

"Supposedly they knew a teacher in the school who had a sexual relationship with a student," Cropper said.

Cropper said teachers said they would have to report that to law enforcement and pressed for more details.

"Her story shifted," Cropper said.

When teachers asked for ID, Cropper said, the woman left and the school's School Resource Officer called police. Lordstown Police Chief Brent Milhoan stopped her and a companion named Ryan Lopez driving away and both had New York Drivers licenses.

According to the police report on the incident, Desir and Lopez identified themselves as investigative reporters for Veritas and listed the organization as their employer. They told police that Veritas flew them to Ohio to investigate a corrupt union.