Boardman police officer injured by man he tried to help

Staff report

BOARDMAN

A township police officer was injured Monday when a man he was trying to help purportedly attacked him and tried to take his gun.

Gregory S. Johnson, 30, of Stillson Place is charged with misdemeanor resisting arrest and felony charges of obstructing official business, assault on a police officer and aggravated robbery.

The charges stem from an incident reported about 1:30 p.m. Monday. Two township officers were dispatched to Glenwood and Wildwood avenues for a report of an accident with injuries. There, according to a police report, they found Johnson slumped over at the steering wheel of his vehicle.

One officer approached him “and attempted to render aid,” according to the report.

Johnson then tried to flee and began fighting the officer, “striking him in the nose, possibly breaking it.”

Johnson also purportedly attempted to take the officer’s firearm and stun gun, and bit the officer on the leg.

Both Johnson and the officer were taken to a hospital for treatment. Johnson was arrested later Monday and taken to the Mahoning County jail, where he remained Tuesday.

He appeared in Mahoning County Area Court here Tuesday for arraignment, where his bond was set at $25,000. The court also found him to be indigent and ordered appointment of counsel.

Johnson is scheduled to be back in court May 16.

Police said the injured officer was seeing a doctor and getting X-rays on Tuesday.