Judge reject's Irby's denial of cop-shooting, orders maximum sentence

WARREN

A defiant Jeff Irby continued to maintain his innocence Tuesday as a judge in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court sentenced him to the maximum 221⁄2 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.

Dripps spoke briefly at the sentencing, saying he wanted to see Irby get the maximum sentence, adding that the matter has “weighed heavily on my family.”

The officer, who has been with the department 18 months after serving in the military in Iraq and Afghanistan, testified that he knew the sound of bullets whizzing past him, having heard it Oct. 14 and during firefights in the Middle East.

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