Sunday, January 28, 2007
YOUNGSTOWN — Police investigating a call about a man with a gun at the Buckeye Elks Lodge at 421 North Ave. arrested three people, including a mother and her son accused of assaulting police officers.
Police were first called to the lodge around 1:40 a.m. Saturday to investigate a report of a man with a gun who was threatening to “shoot the place up.”
The disturbance was in a second floor bar area, and the first policeman through the street-level door said he saw a man walking toward him carrying a black-and-silver handgun.
The officer pulled his own weapon and ordered the man to drop the gun, but the man, later identified as Christopher M. Lacey, 19, of Idora Avenue, turned and ran back up the stairs into the bar.
Officers followed and found Lacey being assaulted by a group of people and they had to fight to get him free. A loaded 9mm handgun was recovered form the floor during the fight, police said.
Lacey was charged with illegal possession of a firearm in a liquor establishment, and, while he was being arrested, officers decided to clear the building after reports of more fights inside.
As they tried to get a group of young men to leave the second-floor bar area, officer Michael Anderson said he saw a man later identified as Walter S. Lacey, 21, of Crandall Avenue, running toward him. Anderson said he ordered Walter Lacey to halt, but when he kept coming, Anderson said he pushed him back.
Walter Lacey then struck him in the face, Anderson said.
The two began struggling, other officers moved in to help, and Walter Lacey, Anderson and Officer Phil Chance all fell to the floor. Walter Lacey struck Chance on top of the head during the fight, police said.
Anderson said that as he was trying to subdue Walter Lacey, he was struck three times on the head and face by a woman later identified as Dionne Dowdy, 37, also of Crandall Avenue, Walter Lacey’s mother.
Anderson said he got to his feet and struck Dowdy to subdue her.
Both Laceys and Dowdy were treated at a hospital for injuries and later lodged in Mahoning County Jail to await arraignment Monday.
Walter Lacey was charged with two counts of assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Dowdy was charged with assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.
Police did not know Sunday if Christopher Lacey was related to Walter Lacey or Dowdy.