Mecca Township man indicted on felonious-assault charge involving officer

WARREN — A Trumbull County grand jury has indicted Matthew I. Slusher, 21, of Housel Craft Road, Mecca Township, on a felonious-assault charge relating to an Oct. 3, 2012, incident in which he purportedly pointed an assault rifle several times at a Champion Township police officer.

In a police report, sheriff’s Deputy Nick Timko said he, another deputy and Champion Patrolman Jeff White responded to Slusher’s home for a domestic matter involving Slusher and his father.

Slusher was in the back yard with an assault rifle, and White told him to put down the rifle, but Slusher raised it and pointed it at White.

“Officer White continued with the commands with the suspect complying, placing the rifle on the ground, lying on the ground and being taken into custody,” Timko said.

White later told Timko that Slusher had pointed the rifle at him three additional times.

Slusher told Timko he pointed the rifle at White to scare him away and wasn’t going to fire the weapon.

If convicted on the charge, Slusher could get more than 10 years in prison.