Criminal charge filed against Valley mayor

By ED RUNYAN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

NEWTON FALLS — A felony criminal charge is filed in Newton Falls Municipal Court against Mayor Patrick Layshock for reportedly blocking the path of an ambulance last month.

The Trumbull County Sheriff’s Department filed the charge of disrupting public services Tuesday.

A police report filed by Sgt. Donald Hyde, a deputy with the sheriff’s office, said Layshock was in his car traveling west on Broad Street at the intersection with Canal Street downtown when an ambulance southbound on Canal stopped at the intersection about 4 p.m. Jan. 14 on its way to a call.

The ambulance driver, Luke Grunder, reported that he could not get through the intersection because Layshock’s car was blocking the way, the report said. The driver motioned for Layshock to pull ahead, but Layshock “refused,” the report said. Layshock also refused a second time.

Grunder motioned for Layshock to move a third time before the mayor appeared to mouth a curse at him and then moved the car, the report said.

Fire Chief Richard Bauman reported the incident to the Newton Falls Police Department, which asked the sheriff’s department to investigate because of a possible conflict between Layshock and the police department.

Layshock told Hyde and another deputy that he remained in the intersection because the ambulance did not have its turning signal on and he could not tell which way it was turning. He denied cursing.

Layshock did not return a call to comment for this story.

No date has been set for Layshock, 52, to appear in court for an arraignment hearing.

Judge Philip Vigorito of Newton Falls Municipal Court has written to the Ohio Supreme Court asking for a visiting judge to be assigned to the case. So far, none has been appointed.

Atty. Robert Johnson, who works as a prosecutor in Girard Municipal Court, is listed as a special prosecutor on the case.

Ohio law, referring to the charge of disrupting public services, says no person shall knowingly “substantially impair the ability of” emergency medical personnel “to respond to an emergency.”

If convicted, Layshock could be sentenced to up to 18 months in jail.

runyan@vindy.com