South Side man charged after ignoring cop's order

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

An East Avondale man is in Mahoning County jail after reports said he ignored an officer’s requests to stop shining a light in the lawman’s eyes during a traffic stop late Thursday evening.

Andrew Cubellis, 23, was arraigned Friday before Judge Robert Milich of municipal court on charges of obstructing official business and carrying concealed weapons. His bond is set at $10,000.

Reports said Cubellis was a passenger in a car police tried to pull over about 10:35 p.m. Thursday for running a stop sign on the South Side. The car turned into a driveway in the 500 block of East Avondale Avenue that reports say is Cubellis’ home.

An officer approached the car, but when he leaned in to talk, reports said Cubellis shined a light in his face, turned it off, then did it again. Reports said the officer told him three times to turn the light off before he finally did. He was ordered out of the car as police learned he had a concealed-weapons permit, reports said.

Cubellis said his gun was in a backpack on the floor of the car, and officers found a 9 mm handgun.

Reports said Cubellis faces a weapons charge because he did not inform the officer as soon as he was stopped he had a permit, which is required by law. Reports said Cubellis objected to police searching his backpack and he did not give his consent.