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South Side man held on $650K bond
YOUNGSTOWN
A South Side man is in Mahoning County jail on a combined $650,000 bond after police say he attempted to break into a home and shot at the homeowner who tried to apprehend him.
Andre Swanson, 32, of Montclair Avenue, appeared for arraignment Thursday before Judge Elizabeth Kobly of Youngstown Municipal Court on felony charges of attempted aggravated burglary, felonious assault, obstructing official business, being a convicted felon in illegal possession of a weapon and possession of criminal tools.
Swanson, who appeared before the judge by closed-circuit television, was given a court-appointed attorney after telling the court his only income is Supplemental Security Income. He attempted to plead his case for a lowered bond, but prosecutors pointed to his criminal history as reason to impose a significant bond.
Court files show that Swanson was convicted of multiple aggravated robberies along with resisting arrest and carrying a concealed weapon in 2000. He was sentenced to seven years in prison for the crimes plus an additional three years for using a gun to commit the crimes.
State prison files show Swanson was just released from prison in August to serve a five-year parole term.
Judge Kobly issued the bond amounts for the felony charges, ranging between $50,000 and $200,000 on each charge.
A 25-year-old Woodbine Avenue man told police he and his 32-year-old girlfriend heard loud banging at their North Side door at 4:15 p.m. Wednesday. He looked out and saw a man wearing a mask up to his eyes. He saw a screwdriver in the man’s hand and believed the man was there to rob them.
The Woodbine man went outside to confront the masked man and chased him on Florencedale Avenue carrying a knife. His girlfriend called police.
The Woodbine man told police Swanson pulled a handgun from his pocket and shot at him four times during the chase but did not hit him.
Police found Swanson hiding under the porch of a vacant house on Bryson Street. He resisted arrest but was subdued, a report said.