Women who sued Youngstown cops sentenced to jail after appeals denied

YOUNGSTOWN

Two women who sued the city police department in federal court over civil-rights violations in 2012 were each sentenced to 28 days in jail Wednesday after appeals of their municipal court convictions for obstructing official business were denied.

Desiree Johnson, 47, of West Princeton Avenue, was also sentenced by Judge Robert Milich on additional charges of resisting arrest and assault on now Capt. Kevin Mercer and Patrolman Patrick Mulligan.

Dorothea Weston, 37, of Miller Avenue, also had a charge of driving under suspension added for the same incident she was sentenced on for obstructing justice.

Weston and Johnson were both tried in 2012 in municipal court and convicted for a 2011 traffic stop in the 1700 block of Overland Avenue on the South Side. Mulligan and Mercer pulled over a car Weston was driving for an improper turn.

The officers claimed neither woman would get out of the car or show them their driver’s licenses. Weston was taken out of the car by Mercer and pinned to the ground. Mulligan and Mercer said they were hit and punched by Johnson.

The women claimed they were attacked and beaten by the officers.

All charges against both women, except obstructing official business, were dropped in April 2011.

On March 15, 2012, however, the officers initiated the resisting arrest and driving-under-suspension charges against Weston and two counts of assault on a police officer against Johnson.

Read more on the case in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.