City man faces multiple charges

YOUNGSTOWN

Deray Johnson, 24, of 46 W. Princeton Ave., pleaded innocent Friday in Youngstown Municipal Court to felony charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle and drug possession after a traffic stop late Thursday. He also pleaded innocent to misdemeanor charges of fleeing and eluding, a traffic-light violation, failure to comply with police officers and driving under suspension.

A police officer first observed Johnson driving through a red light on Oak Hill Avenue at West Warren Avenue at 5:05 p.m. Thursday. Johnson was “talking on the cellphone and not paying attention,” causing the officer to stop at a green light to avoid an accident, according to a police report.

The officer activated his lights and siren, but the driver didn’t stop until four blocks later. Both doors of the car opened, and Johnson could be heard telling his passenger to run, but both were apprehended without a chase.