WARREN Jury deliberating case of man charged with resisting arrest

The defendant contends that officers illegally strip-searched him.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A jury will continue its deliberations in the resisting-arrest trial of a man who contends police beat him.
The jury in Clarence Clay's trial in municipal court began deliberations about 5 p.m. Tuesday and was sent home about 90 minutes later, court officials said.
The jury was expected to resume deliberations this morning.
Clay is facing charges of going through a stop sign, failing to comply with the signal or order of a police officer, obstructing official business and resisting arrest. His trial began Monday in the courtroom of municipal Judge Thomas Gysegem.
Clay has also filed a federal lawsuit alleging police officers beat him and illegally strip-searched him. Police have denied the allegations.
Patrol Officer Joseph Kistler testified Monday that officers witnessed Clay stop at a house on Homewood Avenue known to be a place where illegal drugs are sold.
Kistler said Clay was at the house for about three minutes. When Clay left the house, Kistler and his partner, Ed Hetmanski, followed.
Kistler said Clay went through a stop sign and officers stopped the car. It was Clay, not the officers, who became combative, Kistler said.
He added that crumbs of what he believed to be crack cocaine were visible on Clay's lips, Kistler said. Clay was not arrested on drug charges.
What defendant said
Clay testified Tuesday that he went to the house on Homewood to fix a television for a man he has known since he was 12 years old. He said he was at the house for 30 minutes before he decided to take the TV home for more repairs.
Clay also said that he recalls stopping at the stop sign and that he did not resist arrest.
He said he believes the crumbs officers saw on his lips and in his mouth were parts of the crown of his tooth.
During cross-examination by Traci Timko-Rose, an assistant city prosecutor, Clay said he did not know when his tooth broke.
The videotape of the arrest, which was filmed by a camera mounted to the cruiser, shows Clay struggling with the officers. Clay can also be heard denying that he has any illegal drugs.
sinkovich@vindy.com