Man will be arraigned today after Sunday hostage situation

YOUNGSTOWN — An East LaClede Avenue man is in the Mahoning County jail on weapons and child endangering charges after police said he held several people early Sunday morning inside a basement at a home in the first block of East Philadelphia Avenue.

Gregory Wilkerson, 39, is expected to be arraigned in municipal court later today.

Reports said police were called to the home about 3 a.m., where Wilkerson was in a dispute with people who were in the home, and several people, including seven children, were all being held at gunpoint.

Police surrounded the home and Wilkerson emerged from the basement holding a can of beer. He also had a 9mm pistol with him, reports said.

Reports said a records check found that Wilkerson has several convictions that bar him from having a gun.