Girard man charged with assault after incident in parking lot

Staff report

GIRARD

A Morris Avenue man was charged with felonious assault after an incident in a State Street parking lot in the early hours of Tuesday.

Police said that the arrested man, 38-year-old Joshua Bilger, was driving the victim, Thomas Milligan of Prospect Street, and a third man around after visiting a couple of bars. Police said that the men were driving to Girard from Youngstown.

An argument broke out between Milligan and the third man, and Bilger pulled over to tell them both to get out to the car.

“The suspect told us that he pulled over to drop them both off,” said Capt. John Norman of Girard Police Department.

Bilger told police that Milligan attacked him as he got out of the car, and that is when things escalated.

Witnesses told police that they saw the man identified as Bilger repeatedly hitting the victim, who was on the ground. Witnesses said they saw him slamming the victim’s head into the ground multiple times and stomping on his head before leaving the scene.

Girard police searched the area but couldn’t find a car that matched witness descriptions.

Bilger later was picked up by police outside a bar on Belmont Avenue after Liberty police identified Bilger’s Chrysler.

Girard officers reported that Bilger had blood on his hands and his clothing.

Milligan was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center for treatment.

Norman said police were unable to interview him in the hospital because he was being treated for facial injuries suffered in the incident.

Bilger was arrested and charged and taken to Trumbull County Jail.

He was arraigned Tuesday in municipal court and released after posting a $15,000 bond.