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Charges against 2 women dropped
YOUNGSTOWN
Charges have been dropped against two women accused of assaulting a Youngstown police officer, and the officer has been reprimanded for his reaction to the news.
Police Chief Jimmy Hughes issued a written reprimand to Lt. Kevin Mercer for what was reportedly a screaming match between Mercer and an assistant city prosecutor. The incident took place in an office at city hall last week.
“He was disappointed about how the prosecutor handled a case of his and decided to speak with her about it,” Hughes said. “He was not professional about the situation. He started off trying to discuss the situation, but as it went on, voices escalated, and it went a little too far.”
Hughes said the reprimand was placed in Mercer’s personnel file.
The situation stems from an incident on the city’s South Side on March 30 during a routine traffic stop of Desiree Johnson, 44, and Doretha Weston, 34, both of Youngstown.
According to police reports, Mercer and Officer Patrick Mulligan pulled the two women over in the 1700 block of Overland Avenue because the driver, Weston, failed to signal before turning.
Reports say both women refused to show officers a driver’s license or get out of the car when ordered.
Mercer reported that he pulled Weston from the car and took the woman to the ground after a short scuffle. He reported that Johnson then claimed Mercer was assaulting Weston and dialed 911 from her cellphone. She reportedly refused to hang up the phone and leave the car.
Mulligan reportedly pulled Johnson from the car as Johnson threw punches at the officer, striking him in the nose and on the cheek. Mercer reported he was hit in the face as he tried to help subdue Johnson.
Johnson and Weston both maintained that they had been unjustly attacked and assaulted by the officers.
The women were charged with assault on a police officer and resisting arrest. The dismissal of the charges against both women led to the exchange between Mercer and prosecutors.
The city clerk of courts said Johnson and Weston were bound over to the county grand jury on some charges, but an assault charge against Johnson in county court is listed as closed. An obstruction charge against Weston in common pleas court still is open, but no action has been taken.
Johnson and Weston are set to appear Tuesday in Youngstown Municipal Court for misdemeanor charges of obstruction of official business.