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Man faces 10 felony charges
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Aswad Fleming
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
Ten felony charges against Aswad Fleming, 22, who fled from Warren police May 8, resulting in an injury to one officer and damage to three cruisers and two other vehicles, have been bound over to a grand jury.
Fleming, of West Avenue Northwest, appeared in person for the hearing in Warren Municipal Court Monday before Judge Terry Ivanchak and waived a hearing on the felony charges.
His charges are four counts of felonious assault, four counts of failure to stop after an accident, and single counts of failure to comply with a police officer and receiving stolen property.
Two misdemeanor charges — playing loud music and driving under suspension — were dismissed at the request of Nick Graham, a Warren prosecutor.
Judge Ivanchak ordered that Fleming remain in the Trumbull County jail without eligibility to make bond, but another hearing will be held later in the week to address a probation violation against Fleming and to reconsider bond, Judge Ivanchak said.
Meanwhile, the pursuit continues to be investigated by police Lt. Thomas Skoczylas at the request of Police Chief Tim Bowers.
Skoczylas said Bowers asked him to determine whether any police officers involved committed any policy violations during the 26-minute chase that caused officers from the Warren Police Department to criss-cross the north side of the city in pursuit.
“There were a lot of decisions made, and I want to make sure the right ones were made,” Bowers said of his officers.
Bowers said information about the chase that has so far not been released will be answered when Skoczylas completes his investigation later this week.
A trooper with the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Hiram post became involved as he was passing through the city on other business and got rammed by Fleming’s vehicle, his commander at the patrol said.
Patrolman Pat Hoolihan was involved in a collision a short time after the pursuit began as he tried to catch up to Sgt. Manny Nites and the vehicle Fleming was driving.
The Hoolihan crash occurred at 12:50 p.m. at the intersection of Paige Avenue and Atlantic Street Northeast when Hoolihan drove into the intersection with lights and siren and hit a car that was passing through the intersection with a green light.
Hoolihan’s accident occurred three minutes after the chase started. The chase ended at 1:13 p.m. when Nites and Patrolman John Greaver arrested Fleming.
Hoolihan received treatment at for his injuries. No other officers or citizens reported injuries.