Gill’s lawyer to seek dismissal

Heidi Gill’s jury trial is scheduled for Jan. 7 in
Warren Municipal Court.

By TIM YOVICH

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

WARREN — A defense lawyer says he will seek the dismissal of charges filed against a Howland woman who received national attention when arrested by an officer using a Taser stun gun.

Atty. Mark Hanni said after a Monday afternoon pretrial hearing before municipal Judge Thomas P. Gysegem that he will ask “at the appropriate time” that the misdemeanors charged against Heidi Gill, of Howland, be dropped.

Since her Sept. 2 arrest outside Up A Creek Tavern, an East Market Street nightspot, arresting officer Richard Kovach has been fired by the city for his actions in an unrelated case.

Kovach was fired Dec. 6 for searching the vehicle of Tim Brown II on Aug. 23, even though he knew Brown was not a suspect in a murder case. Police were looking for Brown’s brother.

Kovach was suspended for 60 days for the arrest of 38-year-old Gill of Howland. He could be seen on a police video using the Taser several times on Gill, who city officials say was intoxicated. Kovach has appealed the suspension.

Gill was charged with assaulting a police officer, a felony; and falsification, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, all misdemeanors.

The felony charge was dismissed Oct. 25 after prosecutor Tracy Timko-Rose said Kovach wasn’t available to testify.

Hanni is banking on Kovach’s not being available for a scheduled Jan. 7 jury trial so he can seek dismissal of the misdemeanor charges.

Hanni said he has been informed that the FBI will have its criminal investigation concerning Kovach’s actions during the Gill arrest complete in 30 to 60 days.

He noted that the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation is also looking at conducting a criminal investigation.

Warren police were called to the nightspot after Gill was ordered to leave. She recalled during an interview that she perhaps got into the wrong vehicle.

According to the police report, Kovach used the Taser on Gill because she refused to get out of the car that she ran to after being confronted by the officer.

She could be seen being stunned several times by Kovach.

Police Chief John Mandopoulos recommended the suspension, charging that Kovach did not protect the rights of a prisoner and used inhumane treatment and excessive force, among other violations of department policies.

yovich@vindy.com