43
Chief says search for 2nd gun was fruitless
The chief said storm drains were checked twice.
LISBON — An ailing Wellsville Police Chief Joe Scarbino testified about a fruitless search for a second gun in a 2008 slaying.
Scarbino coughed and drank water while on the witness stand Thursday in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court for the murder trial of Eric M. Dillard of Wellsville.
The chief said he had put a semiautomatic pistol in one of his pockets and a bullet in another pocket that had been recovered by authorities late April 22, 2008.
Police said the gun was used by Dillard, 31, of 906 Commerce St.
Police said Dillard shot Jamie A. Farley, 35, of East Liverpool outside Dillard’s home.
Previous testimony showed that Dillard put his pistol down and walked toward police, who took him to the village jail.
Farley was shot once in the side and once in the pelvis.
The chief said he had ordered a search of a grassy area across the street from Dillard’s home.
“I wanted any evidence connected to the shooting,” he said.
Other searches were made of the area that night.
Scarbino testified that on April 23, Dillard’s girlfriend, Trisha Miller, called him at the police department.
The chief said Miller told police they needed to check drains in the area since someone might throw a gun down one.
He said Miller would not say why she was raising the issue.
The chief then ordered two of his officers to go back and again check the drains on the northeast and southeast corners of 10th Street. That area was where Farley collapsed. He was taken to East Liverpool City Hospital, where he died.
The officers, Scarbino said, looked anywhere evidence could be hidden or thrown away. No more evidence was found, he said.
Farley may have wanted money from Dillard, who was an acquaintance. Police also went to East Liverpool, where the landlord was trying to rent Farley’s apartment, to look for clues or evidence.
Scarbino said they found no weapons or bullets in Farley’s apartment.
The chief and an officer took Dillard to the county jail to be booked on the murder charge. The chief taped the conversation he had with Dillard during the drive. The tape played in court was unintelligible, but the jurors, prosecutors and defense attorneys had transcripts, which included changes by Dillard.
wilkinson@vindy.com