Ravenna man jailed after scuffle

AUSTINTOWN — A Ravenna man who yanked the wire out of the back of the blood-alcohol content machine as he was being tested at the police department was taken to the Mahoning County Jail.

The incident happened at 12:20 a.m. Saturday in the booking area at the police station.

Frank W. Swick, 26, was being advised of the consequences of the test and refusing to take it when he asked, “What happens if the machine becomes broke?” a police report says.

As a police officer grabbed his right hand away from a wire at the back of the machine, Swick reached in with his left and pulled the wire out, the report says.

The officer tried to push Swick back from the machine and Swick moved, causing the officer to hit him in the face, the report says.

Officers took him down to the floor and tried to handcuff him, but he wouldn’t take his hands out from under his body, the report says.

Another officer came to help cuff him.

Swick is charged with operating a vehicle while impaired and with felony vandalism. He was arraigned Monday in Mahoning County Court here, where his pretrial hearing was set for 2:30 p.m. Jan. 28.

There was no report available on when or where the traffic stop occurred involving Swick.