Police find men asleep in car with guns

By ROBERT CONNELLY

rconnelly@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Authorities found two men asleep in a car with three loaded weapons Sunday morning.

The driver, Derrick L. Taylor, 41, of Youngstown was arrested at 7:40 a.m. Sunday on charges of felony improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, felony failure to secure dangerous ordnance and misdemeanor unlawful possession of dangerous ordnance. He also received three traffic tickets.

He was transported to the Mahoning County jail Sunday and is due in Youngstown Municipal Court at 9 a.m. today.

The passenger, Myron E. Washington, 57, of Norwood Avenue was charged with felony improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle. He had in his possession a concealed-carry permit but was given the charge for being intoxicated while having his firearm, police said. He, too, was transported to Mahoning County jail.

Officers arrived at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and West Front Street on Sunday morning to find a car stopped at the intersection with a man in the driver’s seat and another in the front passenger seat asleep.

The driver had a gun between his legs while the passenger had a gun in a holster on the right side of his body, according to a police report.

Officials from Youngstown Fire Department had attempted to awaken the men with no luck. After police attempted to wake them, authorities boxed in the car and entered at the same time securing the guns and placing the men in handcuffs.

The driver initially resisted officers but eventually complied, according to police.

Once inside the vehicle, officers found a sawed-off shotgun on the floorboard of the vehicle.

All three weapons were loaded with live ammunition. The driver had four shotgun-shell rounds.

According to a police report, Taylor told police he purchased his gun and the shotgun because someone “is trying to kill him.”

Washington told police Taylor picked him up before going to the Dog House on Gibson Street for drinks. He also told police Taylor was giving him a ride home after they left the bar at 6 a.m. Sunday.