2 fights at Struthers bar net six arrests

Staff report

STURTHERS

Two fights at a bar on Midlothian Boulevard resulted in an assault on a police officer and six arrests, police reported.

The fights broke out at 2:23 a.m. and 2:48 a.m. Sunday, according to reports.

A police officer driving by the Bowery, 2729 E. Midlothian, spotted the first fight on the sidewalk. It happened after customers in the bar tried to get three underage men to leave, reports said.

The officer, Richard Craig, called dispatch and went to investigate. Between six and 10 people were watching two men fight.

Craig ordered the two to stop, and one of them told him he couldn’t get away from the other one.

The other man, later identified as Tyler Lee Collins, 18, of Ottawa Street in Lake Milton, kept punching the victim, who was one of the customers who’d tried to get the underage men to leave, a report said.

When Craig couldn’t pry Collins away from the victim, Craig sprayed Collins with pepper spray.

Collins let the victim go, but instead of complying, he got out of control, the report said.

He lay on his back and started to kick Craig everywhere he could, with Craig eventually punching back, the report said.

A bystander tried to help Craig and also got kicked and punched, the report said.

Two other officers arrived and they all finally exhausted Collins, the report said.

Collins was charged with assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and obstructing official business. He was jailed without bond until his arraignment Monday. He posted $250 bond and is set to come back to Struthers Municipal Court for a preliminary hearing at 9:30 a.m. Monday.

A short time later, Struthers police, along with Poland Township, Poland village and Campbell police, went back to the Bowery for a large fight in the parking lot.

They chased a group of men to an apartment on Midlothian. The tenant there told police they got into his apartment and he ordered them to leave but they wouldn’t.

Four men were charged with disorderly conduct, criminal trespass and obstructing official business.

Daniel Lindsey, 20, of Wakefield Street, Youngs-town, posted a $300 bond after his arraignment Monday. He will be back in court for trial at 11 a.m. Oct. 26.

His brother, Jacob Lindsey, 18, also of Wakefield Street, posted $300 and will return to court at 10 a.m. Oct. 26.

Ian Offenbecher, 18, of Grimm Heights in Struthers posted a $300 bond and will return to court for trial at 9:45 a.m. July 1.

Jermaine Young, 18, of Elm Street in Struthers is to be arraigned Wednesday. He posted a $300 bond.

A fifth man was arrested but not charged, Struthers court said.