Judge sentences man to 22 1/2 years for shooting Hubbard cop

By Ed Runyan | January 28, 2015 at 12:02a.m.

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.

Dripps made an 11:45 a.m. traffic stop on a car at the Circle K store on West Liberty Street. Moments later, the passenger door opened, and a man ran through back yards on nearby Hager Street with Dripps following.

A short time into the chase, the man turned partway toward Irby and fired three to seven times, but Dripps took cover behind a tree and was not hit.

Officers from numerous departments converged to help, including fellow officers from the nearby police department.

A jury found Irby guilty of felonious assault, resisting arrest, improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, illegal possession of a firearm, tampering with evidence and carrying a concealed weapon.

After the sentencing, Dripps said he didn’t have time to consider the danger he was in at the time Irby was firing at him.

“It happened so fast. You don’t have time to think enough to be scared. Later on, you’re like, ‘That happened. Wow.’”