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7 on South Side face rioting charges
YOUNGSTOWN
Six women and a juvenile involved in a fight on the South Side that led to the assault of a Youngstown police officer will face felony rioting charges.
One of the women already has been charged with the assault.
According to police, Officer Bridget Quinn, a five-year department veteran, reportedly was attacked by the group while attempting to break up a fight and to arrest one woman. Quinn was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center for treatment of bruises to her legs and neck and back pain.
Five of the women, all ranging in age from 20 to 22, initially were charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct for their individual roles in the Thursday night melee, but as they arrived at Youngstown Municipal Court for an initial appearance Friday, each was re-arrested and charged with felony aggravated rioting.
Those facing the rioting charge are Briyanna Littlejohn, 20, of Montclair Avenue, Boardman; Jamalia Abrams, no age or address given; Brittany Littlejohn, 21, of Eastway Drive; Alicia Davis, 20, of Winona Avenue; Ronisha Harris, 21, of Columbus Street, Struthers; and Britany West, 20, of Winona Avenue.
Briyanna Littlejohn is also charged with assault.
Briyanna Littlejohn is in Mahoning County jail on a $25,000 bond and her sister, Brittany Littlejohn, is jailed on a $15,000 bond. The other four women also are jailed.
City Prosecutor Jay Macejko said the rioting charge is a fourth-degree felony. He expects each woman to be kept in jail over the weekend and appear in court for arraignment on the felony charge Monday morning.
Each woman could spend up to 18 months in prison if convicted on the felony charge.
Capt. Rod Foley said the charges were upgraded to felonies because police determined the women were involved in disorderly conduct that led to violent behavior and the assault.
A 15-year-old girl has been arrested for her role in the melee. Macejko said she will be charged in juvenile court.
According to police, officers were sent to the 100 block of East Boston Avenue at about 7:30 p.m. Thursday for a fight involving females in the street. Quinn reported she arrived to find two cars parked in the street and several women fighting.
Quinn said she ordered the women to get back in their cars and stop fighting, but they refused. She said Briyanna Littlejohn attacked the driver of one of the cars by punching her several times.
Quinn reported that she attempted to grab Briyanna Littlejohn and place her under arrest, but the woman began punching the officer in the arms and chest area and kicking her legs.
Quinn said she was trying to control Briyanna Littlejohn when several other women began punching her in the neck and back area.
The officer said she attempted to use her stun gun, but that was “removed from her hand, dropped to the ground and the cartridge was ejected.” Other officers arrived and arrested the other women.
Police also noted two children — 4 and 1 — were sitting alone in one of the cars driven by the women as the fight took place. Those children were released to a grandparent’s custody.