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Complaint filed against Pavlik for August incident
Pavlik Police Report
Document
Felonious assault report against Kelly R. Pavlik on Oct. 14, 2015.
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
Detectives with the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a complaint filed Oct. 14 by a Boardman man that former boxing champion Kelly Pavlik shot him in the arm with a pellet gun.
The report filed by the 41-year-old man said the incident took place Aug. 9 at Pavlik’s Sugarbush Drive home in Canfield, and he did not seek treatment for the wound until the next day at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital.
Maj. Jeff Allen of the sheriff’s office said several people have been interviewed by detectives so far, but not Pavlik. He said investigators are consulting with prosecutors during the investigation. No charges have been filed.
Allen said there was a reason why the man waited so long to file the complaint, but he would not disclose that reason, other than to say the man was “unavailable” earlier.
In the report, the man said he was at Pavlik’s home digging a lake and he had his girlfriend with him. Besides Pavlik, 33, four other people were present, according to the report.
The man said he went into the lake to test the depth and realized a gun was being fired at him. Reports said the man turned and saw Pavlik holding a .22-caliber pellet gun. The man screamed, “That was my head,” then Pavlik raised the gun again and fired, hitting the man in the arm.
The entire incident was filmed on a cellphone and was sent to the victim through a text message. The others who were there were laughing and everyone there was drinking, reports said. Reports said the victim has turned his phone over to investigators.
The man got his arm treated the next day, reports said. Allen said although hospitals are required to report gunshot wounds to hospitals, they are not required to report wounds from pellet guns.
Damian Billak, Pavlik’s attorney, said he and his client are aware of the investigation but he does not want to comment because the investigation is ongoing.
This would be the second time this year Pavlik was the subject of a police investigation.
He has misdemeanor charges of assault and disorderly conduct pending in Niles Municipal Court after a friend said Pavlik attacked him April 18 in Weathersfield Township during a Foo Fighters concert at a record store. Pavlik is accused of punching the friend during the concert. Pavlik has denied those allegations and also denied he had been drinking that day.
In August 2014, Pavlik pleaded guilty in Mahoning County Area Court in Austintown to operating a vehicle while intoxicated, and in February 2014, he pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct for not paying for a cab ride.
Pavlik retired from boxing in January 2013. In 2007, he was the world middleweight champion.