Alleged monk sends threatening prayer to Youngstown cop

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Reports said a man cited for driving under suspension late Wednesday evening claimed he was a monk and performed a “threatening prayer” toward an officer and his family.

Officer Michael Medvec pulled over a recreational vehicle about 10:50 p.m. at South and Dewey avenues on the South Side for making an improper turn.

Reports said the driver, Robert Leroy Miller, 40, of Boardman, told Medvec he did not have his license with him. Medvec checked Miller’s registration and found out Miller has a suspended license with limited driving privileges.

When Medvec asked what those privileges were, reports said Miller told him he was a yogi monk and a Tibetan monk and was on his way from doing a prayer ceremony on Chalmers Avenue. He told the officer because he is a monk, he is allowed to drive for that purpose.

Medvec, however, could not find any paperwork to back up Miller’s claim, reports said, so the officer issued Miller a citation.

As Medvec wrote the citation, Miller performed a “threatening prayer” against Medvec and his family, reports said.

The RV was released to Miller’s girlfriend, who told police she had never seen the paperwork that grants limited driving privileges to Miller, reports said.