Two arrested on gun charges in separate incidents

January 7, 2017 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Police on Thursday arrested two men in separate incidents on gun charges. Both are barred from having firearms because of previous felony criminal arrests or convictions.

Arraigned Friday in municipal court on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of drugs was Ryan Wallace, 28, of Zedaker Avenue.

Reports said Wallace was arrested at his home about 4 p.m. after members of the vice squad and community police unit serving a search warrant investigating drug activity found four pills, $3.272 in cash and a 9mm handgun.

The home also had five security cameras, reports said. An ambulance had to be called after a pregnant woman at the home began having stomach pains. Reports did not say if she was treated by paramedics or taken to a hospital.

Records from Mahoning County Common Pleas Court show Wallace pleaded guilty in 2010 to a fourth degree felony charge of possession of cocaine and was sentenced to 18 months in prison by Judge Maureen Sweeney. He filed a request for judicial release but Judge Sweeney denied all three requests, reports said.

Magistrate Anthony Sertick set his bond at $50,000. He also denied a request from Wallace for a court appointed attorney after Wallace told the magistrate he had two cars and had just received $800 that was found in his pants pocket as payment for a job he just got. The other money belonged to his girlfriend, Wallace said.

Also arraigned Friday on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle and obstructing official business was Ronald T. Green, 20, of West Evergreen Avenue. Magistrate Sertick set his bond at $35,000. Reports said Green was a passenger in a car pulled over about 4:20 p.m. Thursday at Oak Hill and West Dewey avenues after it was blocking traffic. Reports said the car smelled of marijuana and Green gave police a false name.

When police found out Green’s real name, they discovered he has a warrant from Texas and authorities from there would come here to get him. Green refused to get out of the car at first to be taken into custody but he eventually got out and was taken into custody.

Police searched the car because it smelled like marijuana and they found a .380-caliber semiautomatic handgun under the seat where Green was sitting, reports said.

Green has three felony arrests or convictions from Texas which prohibit him from carrying a gun, said Assistant Prosecutor Kathy Thompson.