Girard officer injured confronting suspect

Staff report

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Officer Tim O’Leary was treated for knife cuts on the left side of his head, face and ear area after a disturbance at 9:36 p.m. Wednesday at 47 Skoplee St.

He was treated at St. Elizabeth Health Center.

Police gave this account: William Exline, 31, of East Broadway Street, was beating on the door of a residence on Skoplee. Exline was known to have an active warrant from an incident Monday night in which he threatened a relative and neighbor on Skoplee Street with a hammer then fled. He was being sought on a charge of aggravated menacing.

When approached by police, Exline exchanged words with police and threatened to harm himself. After fleeing on foot, he was caught by O’Leary in a small grassy field about 200 feet north of the Skoplee address. He was confrontational with police, yelling obscenities. When police tried to take Exline into custody, he became physical. Police believe he pulled a pocket knife from his pants and cut O’Leary.

O’Leary and Officer Steve Lewis took Exline into custody. He was taken to Trumbull County Jail and remains there without bond. He was charged with felonious assault on a police officer and aggravated menacing. His arraignment will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday.