Boardman police say intoxicated man hit bicyclist in mall parking lot

Staff report

BOARDMAN

Township police say a man suspected of driving while intoxicated hit a bicyclist in a parking lot.

Stephen Rivers, 23, of Boardman Boulevard is charged with aggravated vehicular assault, improper handling of a firearm, obstructing official business, operating a vehicle while impaired, hit/skip with injuries and driving under suspension in connection with the incident, according to police and court records. He also was cited for open container, reckless operation on private property and a driver’s license offense.

According to a police report, officers were dispatched to a Southern Park Mall parking lot about 11 p.m. Wednesday. Someone called 911 to report being hit by a pickup truck.

Police reported seeing the truck near DeBartolo Place “traveling in a very reckless manner,” and stopped it on Boardman Boulevard.

Police said the driver, identified as Rivers, smelled of alcohol, was unsteady on his feet and refused to cooperate. They also found that he was under multiple license suspensions.

Rivers was arrested on charges of obstructing official business and operating a vehicle while impaired, according to the report, which also noted he has two prior OVI convictions from 2016 and a physical control conviction from 2014.

“Following further investigation, it was discovered that Rivers had struck a subject who was riding a bicycle through the mall overflow lot ... as he was doing ‘donuts’ in his truck in the snow-covered parking lot,” the report states. A record of the 911 call indicates the bicyclist suffered a leg injury.

Police further reported finding a loaded gun and two open bottles of liquor in Rivers’ truck, resulting in additional charges, according to the report.