Two men face charges in argument outside Liberty Walmart
Walmart Parking Lot Altercation
By Ed Runyan
LIBERTY
Jermaine D. Phipps, 43, of Maplewood Avenue in Liberty, was arraigned Wednesday in Girard Municipal Court on charges related to an argument in the Walmart parking lot Tuesday afternoon that resulted in a car crash.
Phipps is charged with attempted felonious assault and misdemeanor child endangering and criminal damaging. He was not asked for a plea on the attempted felonious assault. He pleaded not guilty on the other two charges. He was released from the Trumbull County Jail after posting $7,500 bond.
The other man involved, Jamayle L. Roland, 24, of Fairmont Avenue, Youngstown, also is facing one or more assault charges and will be arraigned Tuesday. Phipps went to jail Tuesday night; Roland did not.
The dispute began near the store entrance and continued into the parking lot. Five vehicles and about a dozen people were involved, Liberty police said. Four of the cars had damage estimated at $3,300.
It began when Roland stopped his car in front of the store, then remained there in the fire lane illegally, police said.
Phipps, who was accompanied by his sister and his two children, age 3 and 1, yelled to Roland to find a parking space. The two argued, and Roland got out of his car and approached Phipps, police said.
Phipps then drove around the parking lot and approached Roland’s car from behind, ramming it. No one was in the car at the time, according to Walmart surveillance video, police said.
After hitting Roland’s car, Phipps drove toward the pedestrian crossing area, putting pedestrians at risk, police said. Roland then walked alongside Phipps’ sister in the parking lot as she searched for her brother. She said Roland shoved her up against a vehicle, police said.
Phipps then accelerated his car in Roland’s direction, and Roland could be seen jumping out of the way and narrowly avoiding being hit, police said.
But Phipps’ car continued and struck three vehicles, two of which were occupied, Phipps’ children were in car seats and not injured, police said.
After the crash, Roland punched Phipps through the open window of the car, police said. Phipps said he was not injured. And police said none of the other parties involved were injured, either.
Phipps’ children were released to his sister.