George Rafidi remains detained

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A Lordstown man, who pleaded innocent to charges of assaulting federal officers and brandishing a gun while doing so, will remain detained without bond pending his trial, a U.S. magistrate has ordered.

U.S. Magistrate George J. Limbert issued the continuing detention order when George Rafidi, 60, owner of the Breaden Market on Youngstown’s South Side, was arraigned Wednesday after being indicted Oct. 22.

On Oct. 8, Rafidi twice pointed a revolver at the officers before a Lordstown detective fired several shots at him, according to a deputy U.S. marshal who filed an affidavit and testified in an earlier court hearing.

Rafidi retreated into his home before emerging and surrendering shortly thereafter, the deputy marshal testified.

The confrontation occurred as federal agents served a search warrant at Rafidi’s home concerning a U.S. Department of Agriculture food-stamp fraud investigation.

Rafidi, who was awakened by the agents, wasn’t hit by the gunfire, but a USDA agent, who jumped off Rafidi’s porch during the confrontation, injured his shoulder.

Nobody else was hurt.

A pretrial hearing is set for 2:30 p.m. Thursday before U.S. District Court Judge Patricia A. Gaughan in Cleveland.