Youngstown police arrest man for stalking, carrying concealed weapon

YOUNGSTOWN — Police arrested a man early today in the backyard of a vacant South Side home with a loaded gun and duct tape after answering several stalking calls.

Melvin Johnson Jr., 47 of Park Heights, is expected to be arraigned later today in municipal court on charges of carrying concealed weapons, resisting arrest, obstructing official business and menacing by stalking.

He was caught about 12:10 a.m. in the backyard in the 300 block of East Florida Avenue.

Reports said police were in the area because a woman in the 300 block of Marmion Avenue had called police several times, including at least twice Tuesday, for reports of Johnson bothering her and that she had a protection order against him as well.

Police spotted Johnson in the backyard but he refused to stop and ran until he fell down. When officers tried to handcuff him he resisted, reports said.

After he was cuffed, police found a loaded .22-caliber revolver and the duct tape, reports said.