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Tasered woman arrested in assault
Witnesses said Heidi Gill attacked another woman without provocation.
STAFF REPORT
AUSTINTOWN — A Howland Township woman who made national headlines last year when a Warren police officer stunned her with a Taser has now been arrested on charges of assault and disorderly conduct.
Heidi Gill, 39, entered Denny’s restaurant on Mahoning Avenue around 3 a.m. Tuesday and, without provocation, began slapping, punching and pulling out the hair of an 18-year-old Austintown woman, according to police reports.
Police said that the other woman had been waiting to pay at the front register with two of her friends, when Gill walked into the restaurant. They heard Gill tell another woman: “I’m gonna slap someone.”
The 18-year-old turned around and Gill slapped and punched her. After employees separated the two, Austintown police were called.
The 18-year-old’s two 17-year-old friends, a restaurant employee and a bystander all provided statements that said Gill’s assault on the woman was unprovoked, police reported.
When police arrived, Gill had a large clump of brown hair clenched in her right hand and was screaming vulgarities.
After identifying herself, she was taken to the Mahoning County jail, where she was jailed on the charges of assault, disorderly conduct while intoxicated, and failure to desist.
Gill received national media attention when she was stunned with a Taser by Warren police officer Richard Kovach as he arrested her outside a Market Street bar in September 2007.
Gill, handcuffed at the time, was knocked unconscious after she fell to the pavement, Warren police said.
Kovach received a 60-day suspension for his treatment of Gill.
In March, Gill was hospitalized after a fall at her Howland home.
The case was initially investigated by township police, who were dispatched by a 911 call. Gill suffered puncture wounds.
Upon further investigation, however, township police determined the injuries were made after Gill fell at the home.
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