Police say man used rifle to rob truck driver

Staff report

youngstown

A man is charged with aggravated robbery after trying to rob a truck driver making a delivery to Family Dollar Store at 2224 Market St. at 5:37 p.m. Wednesday, police report.

Police said Gerald Johnson, 30, of Riverside Drive in Youngstown, was arrested at the scene as he fought with the truck driver.

The driver told police he got out of his truck, and Johnson approached, pulled a rifle out of his waistband and demanded money, the report states.

The driver gave Johnson his wallet, he told police, and Johnson put the rifle between his legs to get money out of the wallet.

The driver grabbed for the rifle, and the men began to fight. Johnson fired a shot, the driver told police. Another man in the truck, who was asleep during the robbery attempt, heard the shot and helped the driver subdue Johnson.

Johnson was handcuffed and taken to a police car, but he tried to run away. Police hit him with pepper spray, the report says.

He was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center for injuries suffered in the fight before being taken to the Mahoning County jail. The driver was treated for bite wounds on his hands.