Police pepper spray man swinging a bat

YOUNGSTOWN — A city man is charged with misdemeanor obstruction of official business and aggravated menacing after police say he threatened neighbors with a gun and was ultimately sprayed with pepper spray.

Quay Smith, 40, of Greeley Lane pleaded innocent before Judge Robert P. Milich. Bond was set at $40,000 and house confinement. He is also ordered not to have contact with his neighbors.

Prosecutors told the court that Smith’s history includes trafficking in cocaine, credit card fraud, attempted burglary, theft and probation violation.

According to police reports, Smith entered a neighbor’s home at 2:25 a.m. Monday carrying a handgun and threatening to shoot two men in the house. He eventually left and went back to his own home.

Reports say police arrived and were talking to the two men when Smith again emerged from his home threatening the two men and carrying baseball bat, which he began to swing at police officers.

Smith was sprayed with pepper spray, taken to the ground and arrested. Officers confiscated the bat, but did not find any handguns upon searching his home.