Man runs from YPD with AK-47, handgun

June 24, 2017 at 12:05a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Bond was set at $65,000 for a man police said they chased in a car and on foot late Thursday on the South Side who had a loaded AK-47 and a .40-caliber handgun.

Raymond Hammond, 32, of North Bon Air Avenue, was arraigned Friday in municipal court before Magistrate Anthony Sertick on charges of carrying concealed weapons, being a felon in possession of a firearm, failure to comply, obstruction of official business, possession of marijuana and resisting arrest.

He is in the Mahoning County jail.

Reports said police were called about 10:50 p.m. to the 900 block of Brentwood Avenue for a man holding an AK-47. When officers arrived, they spotted Hammond, who matched the description of the person holding the rifle, sitting in an SUV.

Reports said the SUV suddenly backed up at a high rate of speed, then stopped and went forward to the 700 block of Sherwood Avenue, where Hammond jumped out carrying the AK-47 and ignoring numerous demands from police to stop.

At one point, Hammond’s shoes fell off as he threw the rifle and a handgun he was carrying before falling on his face. He struggled with police before he was handcuffed by officers Michael Medvec and Detective Sgt. Josh Kelly.

Hammond also had a bag of suspected marijuana when he was searched, reports said.

Reports said Hammond complained he was not feeling well because he has asthma. An ambulance was called and he was examined at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital before being taken to the jail.

This is not the first time Hammond has been charged with having an assault weapon and running from police. In August 2005, while on probation for a burglary charge, he faced similar charges after police spotted him in a stolen car in the 2200 block of Selma Avenue near the scene of a recent drive-by shooting.

Reports said Hammond and another person in the car ran from police and Hammond tried to tackle an officer before he was caught. Inside the car police found a 9 mm assault rifle, several rounds of 9 mm ammunition and a .12-gauge shotgun.

In that case, Hammond was found guilty on weapons and receiving stolen property charges and sentenced to four years in prison.

In 2013, he received another four-year prison sentence on aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and kidnapping charges from 2011 and also got a year in prison on a burglary charge.

In 2016, Hammond received two years’ probation after pleading guilty to a charge of drug possession.