YOUNGSTOWN YSU ROTC cadet's stick mistaken for shotgun

The student scraped his knee when police forced him to the ground.
By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A camouflage-clad Youngstown State University student running downtown with what police said appeared to be a shotgun stock or short rifle -- it turned out to be a stick -- thinks city and campus police who drew their weapons overreacted.
"The university police know that if any person in camouflage is around, it might be an ROTC cadet training," 22-year-old Joseph Wilhelm said in a letter to The Vindicator. "We always train down there."
Wilhelm said he was training for an ROTC varsity competition by running downtown with a 40-pound backpack, wearing camouflage pants and his white YSU ROTC T-shirt. He said even if he was carrying a weapon, it wasn't concealed and is therefore legal.
YSU Police Chief Jack Gocala said Wilhelm, who was running alone at 5:10 p.m. Nov. 1 near the WRTA station, caught the attention of YSU Patrolman Charles Hanni, a part-time officer on his way to work a football game.
Hanni, driving his personal vehicle, called the campus police dispatcher who, in turn, notified the Youngstown Police Department.
Gocala said the city officer drew his weapon and ordered Wilhelm three times to drop the object he was carrying. Hanni said in his report that he drew his weapon to protect the YPD officer, who was not named.
Cautious move
Wilhelm, in his letter, said he was ordered to drop his weapon but had "no clue" what the city officer was talking about. The YSU student said he threw the stick when told a second time to drop what he had.
Wilhelm said he was forced to the ground and scraped his knee. He was let go once the officers realized the gun was really a stick.
Gocala and YPD Police Chief Robert E. Bush Jr. said their officers wouldn't have known what Wilhelm was carrying until they investigated. Bush said the first city officer on the scene was Patrolman Carlo Eggleston.
Gocala and Bush said their officers acted appropriately, considering that a patrolman was killed downtown six months ago.
"I don't think any officer who believes there is a weapon would get out without his own weapon drawn," Gocala said. "Police can't be too cautious."
Wilhelm's complaint
Wilhelm said he understands and conceded that what happened may have been an honest mistake.
"I'm mad because I had a gun pointed to my head," Wilhelm said. "If I had made the wrong move, who knows what would have happened?"
Wilhelm said had the YSU officer properly assessed the situation, he would have realized the "weapon" was just a stick, a stick that looks nothing like a shotgun.
Gocala said Wilhelm should have yelled "YSU ROTC -- this is a stick!" when he saw police approach with their weapons drawn. The chief said Wilhelm running alone in full combat-type gear drew attention.
Gocala said he finds it interesting that Wilhelm contacted The Vindicator but didn't fill out a formal complaint with campus police, as he was instructed to do. Capt. Martin F. Kane, YPD Internal Affairs Division commander, said Monday that Wilhelm filed no complaint there, either.
Wilhelm said Monday that he contacted a lawyer who advised him to not file a complaint yet. The student said he's not sure what he wants to do and if he had received an apology from the officers, he may have let it go.