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Bond set at 50k for man accused of assaulting cop
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
A man accused of assaulting a city police officer told a municipal court magistrate Monday he did not understand why his bond was so high for a fourth-degree felony.
Arnold Shiflett, 28, of Wesley Avenue, asked Magistrate Anthony Sertick why he was being given a $30,000 bond for a fourth-degree felony count of assault on a police officer.
Sertick explained there is never a set amount for bond in any case.
He also noted Shiflett’s past record – which includes arrests or convictions for domestic violence, assault and felonious arrest among nine previous cases Assistant City Prosecutor Kathy Thompson ticked off; plus four times he has failed to appear in court, the most recent on July 11.
“You have a long history of violent offenses,” Sertick said.
“With that in mind, I don’t believe that $30,000 cash or surety is unreasonable.”
Shiflett was also given bonds of $5,000 each for charges of resisting arrest and obstructing official business for his Friday arrest at Connecticut and North Dunlap avenues after a traffic stop, as well as $5,000 each on two warrants for failure to appear in municipal court.
Reports said a car driven by Shiflett was pulled over about 8:05 a.m. Friday for an improper turn and when questioned by officer Seann Carfolo, he gave the officer a false name.
Shiflett was asked to get out of the car and did so, but reports said he ran when he was told he would be detained because he did not have any identification and he also gave a false name.
Carfolo was able to grab Shiflett’s arm and Shiflett then punched him in the face, reports said.
Reports said the pair struggled and at one point Shifflet put Carfolo in a headlock and tried to choke him before Carfolo was able to break free, get on top of Shifflet and pin him down until other officers arrived.
Reports noted there was a woman who was a passenger in the car and two children were in the back seat.
The woman in the car was issued a citation for wrongful entrustment because reports said she knew Shiflett has a suspended driver’s license yet she still allowed him to drive her car.
She was released with a court date.
Reports said the children in the car are her children.