Warren man arrested after he purportedly pointed shotgun at officer

Photo

Justin S. Del Cruz

Staff report

WARREN

Justin S. Del Cruz, 20, Woodview Avenue Southwest, is in the Trumbull County Jail, charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and other charges after police say he pointed a shotgun at a Warren police officer late New Year’s Eve.

Police were called to Logan Avenue Southeast near South Street at 11:15 p.m. Wednesday for gunshots.

A patrolman approached Logan Avenue from Linden Avenue Southeast and watched as a man, later identified as Del Cruz, fired several shots into the air, according to a police report.

The officer pointed his service revolver, which was equipped with a flashlight laser, at the man and yelled “Police. Get on the ground,” but the man lowered the shot gun and momentarily “pointed it at me,” the officer said.

The man and two others ran off, one of them running in the direction of the officer, the two others fled into a house on Logan Avenue.

The officer apprehended the man who ran toward him and waited for other officers to arrive.

Several women in the house refused to allow officers to search the home, so officers secured a search warrant.

However, Del Cruz surrendered to officers before the warrant was executed.

Additional officers from the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office and Ohio State Highway Patrol helped search the house, finding Anthony Scott, 20, of Logan Avenue, hiding in a cabinet in the basement.

He was charged with a misdemeanor charge of obstructing official business. He also had two felony warrants. Scott was indicted in Mahoning County.

Both men likely are to be arraigned Monday in Warren Municipal Court.

The third man, who ran toward the officer, was not charged.