City man faces charge of assaulting state trooper

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A North Side man is expected to be arraigned today in Youngstown Municipal Court on several felony charges, including assaulting a state trooper.

Eryck Fletcher, 19, of West Dennick Avenue, faces felony charges of assault on a police officer, improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle and possession of drugs.

Reports said Fletcher was the driver of a car pulled over about 1 a.m. Sunday at South and East Lucius avenues on the South Side by an officer of the Ohio State Highway Patrol for speeding. The trooper said he smelled alcohol on Fletcher’s breath. When Fletcher was taken to a state patrol cruiser, he ran away.

A trooper chased Fletcher, who elbowed the trooper in the head. The trooper was able to use his electronic stun weapon to subdue Fletcher, reports said. Besides more than $1,700 in cash, reports said Fletcher also had 10 painkillers on him when he was searched. A 9 mm handgun was found under the driver’s seat of his car, reports said.

Fletcher was taken home after Mahoning County jail staff refused to admit him because he complained of a sore foot.

He was arraigned Monday in municipal court on misdemeanor charges of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence and other traffic charges. The felony charges were filed against him late Monday afternoon, and he is in the jail.