Warren man charged in Niles with weapons charges

Staff report

NILES

Police here charged Anthony L. Rivera, 32, of Eastland Avenue Southeast, Warren, with improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle and using weapons while intoxicated after a report of someone firing gunshots near the High Point Restaurant and Tavern, 754 Youngstown Road at 1:38 a.m. Saturday.

Based on witness accounts, police identified Rivera as a suspect, learned that he lives on Eastland and got assistance from Warren police and the Ohio State Highway Patrol to detain him.

When searching Rivera’s vehicle, police found a loaded handgun and two spent shell casings on the floor of the car. Rivera said he fired the gun twice in the air when he left the High Point because he was angry after having a physical confrontation at the business earlier.

Rivera has a concealed-carry license, police said. A blood-alcohol test showed his level at 0.211, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.