Salem woman’s suit alleges wrongful arrest

staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — A Salem woman has sued a Youngstown man and a Boardman police sergeant, saying she was wrongly arrested and jailed for a crime she did not commit.

Leeza Perry, of Valley Road, sued Russell DeMaris, of Stuart Avenue, Youngstown, who complained that Perry assaulted him, and Sgt. Charles Hillman, who issued the arrest warrant for her Aug. 12, 2008.

The suit says Hillman recklessly failed to adequately investigate the matter before signing the arrest warrant.

Hillman declined to comment, and DeMaris could not be reached to comment.

Perry said she was arrested Aug. 22, 2008, without probable cause and that the felonious- assault charge against her was dismissed Oct. 31, 2008, after a preliminary hearing in Mahoning County Area Court, Boardman.

The suit demands more than $25,000 in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages.

Atty. John B. Juhasz filed the action, which demands a jury trial, last week in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. The case is assigned to Judge R. Scott Krichbaum.