Irby sentenced to prison for shooting at Hubbard cop

WARREN — A defiant Jeff Irby continued to maintain his innocence this morning as a judge in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court sentenced him to the maximum 22 1/2 years in prison for firing a gun several times at a Hubbard police officer Oct. 14.

“I am innocent. I didn’t shoot at Officer Dripps,” Irby said.

But Judge Andrew Logan said Irby has “been shown to be a danger to society” and “will be taken away from the community for as long as possible.”

Irby, 26, with addresses in Youngstown and Indiana, fired a gun at Patrolman D.J. Dripps between three and seven times as he fled from a traffic stop, the officer testified at Irby's trial earlier this month.

Irby was found nearby about 30 minutes later and taken into custody.