EASTWOOD EXPO FRACAS Millersburg man pleads to lesser charges in melee

Preliminary hearings for others charged in the near-riot are set for next week.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- A Millersburg, Ohio, man avoided jail time after pleading to lesser charges stemming from a fracas last week outside the Eastwood Expo Center.
Michael E. Saffle, 21, appeared in Niles Municipal Court Tuesday and entered a guilty plea to two counts of resisting arrest and one count of disorderly conduct.On the first charge of resisting arrest, he received a fine of $250 and court costs with 90 days in jail suspended; for the second charge of resisting arrest, $100 in costs; and $50 and costs for the disorderly conduct count.
Original charges
Saffle was originally charged with resisting arrest and assault for spitting on Niles Police Officer Aaron Clay during the disturbance. Saffle was one of five men arrested early Friday after a fight and a shooting outside the Center Stage lounge at the Expo Center.
Also arrested were Justin Young, 21, of Brentwood Avenue, Youngstown, charged with felonious assault and carrying a concealed weapon; Antoine Tate, 22, of Argo Street, Youngstown, complicity to felonious assault and carrying a concealed weapon; Gerald Hardaway, 23, of Glenwood Avenue, Youngstown, felonious assault and resisting arrest; and Anthony M. Caulton, 22, of East Auburndale Avenue, Youngstown, escape and disorderly conduct.
Preliminary hearings for those four are set to begin at 9 a.m. April 21.
What happened
Police say the near-riot erupted shortly before 1 a.m. Friday when patrons at a rap concert's after-party became agitated when the facility ran out of alcohol.
Officers say that Young and Tate were in a vehicle together when several shots were fired into the crowd gathered outside. Wounded during the shooting was 28-year-old Derrick Talley of Warren, who was hit in the arm.
Hardaway is accused of using a glass bottle to hit Niles police Officer Rich Bailey over the head and face during his arrest.
Caulton, who was handcuffed in a police car after being arrested for disorderly conduct, was additionally charged with escape after videotape from a police cruiser showed someone opened the door to the cruiser and he walked away. He was taken into custody again a short time later.
slshaulis@vindy.com