Thursday, August 21, 2003
Police say they used only necessary force to control the teen.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
POLAND -- A village teen is facing several misdemeanor and felony charges following a weekend scuffle with township and village police.
Donald E. Bucci II, 16, of South Main Street, is charged with felony assault on a police officer, burglary and misdemeanor resisting arrest. Village Police Chief Russell Beatty said Bucci struggled and became combative with officers who went to his home to serve an arrest warrant on him.
According to Beatty, the arrest warrant was issued over a burglary in the village Aug. 12. Beatty said Bucci, 17-year-old John Zenoni of Orchard Drive in Hubbard and 19-year-old Benjamin Higham of Kerrybrook Trail broke into a home but were interrupted when the homeowner returned.
Beatty said Higham has been arrested. He is charged with felony burglary and is free on bond. Zenoni, also charged with burglary, turned himself in to police Monday.
According to police reports, Bucci, while officers were trying to take him into custody, pulled away, insulted and kicked at officers before being taken to the village police station. Township police officer Gerald Velasquez was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center's Boardman facility for an arm injury.
Beatty said Bucci told officers they had broken his hand during the arrest and he was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown where an older injury to his hand was discovered. He said no complaint has been filed in regard to the hand injury.
Police said Bucci wasn't hurt during the arrest.
Father's lawsuit
Bucci's father already has a lawsuit pending against the village in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio Eastern Division that claims the father was abused by police during a traffic stop in 2001.
The father, also named Donald Bucci, is suing a village police officer and officials for $5 million. The suit says the elder Bucci was pulled over on a charge of driving with a suspended license by officer Patrick Klingensmith.
After he was handcuffed and placed in the police car, the suit claims, Klingensmith slammed the door, striking Bucci on the arm and dislocating his right elbow.
Bucci was taken to the hospital and the suit says Klingensmith handcuffed Bucci to the ambulance for the trip. The suit says Bucci also was handcuffed to a hospital bed.
The suit says that Bucci also asked to use the restroom, but was denied and he wet his pants while under anesthesia. The suit, filed in Youngstown, has been transferred to Akron, where it is pending.
The village has denied the older Bucci's claims of excessive use of force. The case is pending.
jgoodwin@vindy.com