Man pleads innocent in fireworks incident at Trumbull Co. fair

Man arraigned on fireworks charge related to Trumbull County Fair

James N. McElroy of Ripley pleaded innocent to setting off fireworks without a license at last summer’s Trumbull County Fair.

Staff report

WARREN

James N. McElroy, 67, of Ripley, Ohio, pleaded innocent Tuesday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court to one felony count of prohibitions concerning exhibitors and fireworks relating to an incident during last summer’s Trumbull County Fair.

Judge Andrew Logan set bond at $2,500. McElroy was indicted by a Trumbull County grand jury last month. If convicted, he could get up to 18 months in prison.

The Trumbull County Sheriff’s office said McElroy, owner of Broken Horn Rodeo, set off fireworks during the rodeo performed at the fair July 6, 2012, without a license.

Mounted Trumbull County deputy Allen Smith, 75, of Orangeville, was thrown from his horse, which was near the grandstand, because of the fireworks, the sheriff’s office said.

In the fall, Smith broke three ribs, suffered a punctured lung and broken shoulder. A police report says fair-board member Bud Rogers learned that the rodeo was planning to shoot off fireworks during the rodeo without a permit and asked McElroy not to do it.

McElroy told Rogers he still intended to set off the fireworks, so Rogers told Bazetta Fire Chief Dennis Lewis, who also spoke with McElroy.

At that point, Rogers and Lewis were told that McElroy would cancel the fireworks portion of the event, the report said.

When asked later about the fireworks, McElroy told a sheriff’s deputy that he “sets off fireworks at all his shows and has never had this problem at any other shows.”