Two arrested when cops investigate fight, gunfire

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Police arrested two men on separate charges while investigating a call about gunshots at 8:30 a.m. Sunday in the 2900 block of Rush Boulevard.

Police were called there by a woman who said she took a sister to a home to visit her boyfriend, but the two argued and she came back to the car smelling of gasoline.

Reports said the woman told her sister the boyfriend poured gas on her and told her to leave. As the woman drove away she heard several shots and called police. Reports said the city 911 center received at least two other calls about gunshots.

Police arrived at the home and knocked on the door, and a man later identified as Ramon Herring, 26, answered and told police he was the only person in the house. He gave police a false name, reports said.

Reports said another man then came out the back door and told officers Herring’s identity and that he was lying. Police took Herring into custody on a charge of obstructing justice and took him to the Mahoning County jail.

In the backyard of that home, police did find four 0.45-caliber shell casings that appeared to have been fired recently, reports said.

Also arrested on a charge of possession of drugs/heroin was William Tatum, 38. Reports said as officers were approaching Rush Boulevard, they saw Tatum shove something behind the wheel of a car. Police looked and found an eyeglass case that had five syringes inside, one loaded and four others that appeared to have been used along with a burnt spoon with suspected heroin residue.

Tatum also was taken to the jail on a charge of possessing drug-abuse instruments.