Reserve deputy charged over officer altercation

By Ed Runyan

The officer was in line to apply for a full-time position within a month.

WARREN — A reserve deputy for the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department has pleaded innocent to a felony weapons charge and two misdemeanors over an altercation he had with police outside a Warren Township tavern.

Kevin A. Hellock, 36, of Stewart Avenue, Warren, faces charges of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, driving under the influence and resisting arrest.

Warren Township police said they were called to Bushwacker’s, 825 North River Road, for an unwanted intoxicated person.

When they arrived, they found Hellock trying to drive his car out of the bar’s parking lot. Officers blocked his car in and had Hellock put the vehicle into park.

Officers reported smelling alcohol as they asked him for his license and registration. Hellock flipped open his wallet to show them his badge — and said the badge was all they needed to know.

When officers again asked him for his driver’s license and registration, he shouted, “I am a [expletive] cop,” the police report said.

Hellock then put his vehicle in gear and tried to drive away with the driver’s-side door open. The vehicle nearly struck two police officers and their cruisers.

One officer then reached inside and put Hellock’s car in park, and officers took Hellock out of the car and restrained him on the ground.

Hellock refused any field sobriety tests later at the Champion Police Department. A Champion officer assisted with the arrest.

While checking Hellock’s vehicle, officers found a loaded revolver inside an unlocked glove compartment.

Hellock was released on a summons to appear Friday in Warren Municipal Court. Judge Thomas Gysegem released Hellock on $5,000 bond when Hellock appeared before him for arraignment Friday afternoon.

Hellock’s next hearing is set for 1:30 p.m. Sept. 30 in municipal court.

Mahoning County Sheriff Randall Wellington said Hellock has been a reserve deputy for about a year and would be eligible for consideration for a full-time position in about three weeks when the department begins the application process to fill six positions in the department.

He is one of 18 reserves who would have been under consideration for a full-time job, Wellington said.

If the allegations against Hellock are true, he will be terminated from the department, Wellington said.

runyan@vindy.com