Man who fought police dog sentenced

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A city man who fought with a police dog after a traffic stop, in which police found a loaded handgun and heroin in his car, has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Robert Kelly Jr., 28, of Mistletoe Avenue, drew the sentence Monday from Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

The sentence is non-appealable because it was agreed to by the prosecution and defense and adopted by the judge after Kelly pleaded guilty to drug possession, improper gun handling and obstructing official business.

While patrolling with his canine partner, Ninja, officer Michael Anderson stopped Kelly at 2:30 a.m. Feb. 27 on Interstate 680 near the Mahoning Avenue ramp, when he saw him speeding and driving outside marked lanes.

When he tried to handcuff Kelly, Anderson reported Kelly fought with him and shoved him into the interstate’s driving lane, ran away, and repeatedly punched the police dog that caught up with him. Ninja grabbed Kelly’s pant leg, tearing it from Kelly’s trousers.