Published: Saturday, July 21, 2007
3 men are charged in standoff in Niles
Additional charges will be filed against the holdup suspect, police say.
and TIM YOVICH
NILES — Three Pratt Street men have been charged after a 21/2-hour standoff on the near east side that was sparked by what police says was an armed robbery.
Police charged Joseph A. Leasock, 41, with possession of drugs, obstructing official business and aggravated robbery Friday.
Shawn E. Davis, 22, and Richard W. Calderwood, 27, were each charged with felony obstructing official business.
The three live in the same Pratt Street building but in separate apartments.
Davis and Calderwood along with two women were flushed out of 450 Mason St. after tear gas was fired into the 21/2-story house about 6 a.m. The house was rented by the two women, who were not charged.
Leasock emerged before the house was gassed, said city Detective James Robbins.
Police Chief Bruce Simeone said the standoff started after Leasock reportedly robbed a bartender after she closed Stredney's, a tavern at Cedar and Mason streets about 3 a.m.
The bar is owned by Ed Stredney, the city's 3rd Ward councilman.
Simeone said that Leasock is accused of pulling a handgun and grabbing the bartender's purse as the bartender was walking to her car. As she fought, the bartender was pistol whipped and an undisclosed amount of money taken. She received bruises on the arm and head.
Quick response
A witness followed Leasock to the Mason Street house that is on the corner opposite the tavern. The witness called police, the chief said.
Officers were nearby when the call went out, alerting them of the robbery, and responded in about a minute, Simeone added.
Robbins said Davis and Calderwood were partying with the two women before the robbery. It was uncertain if Leasock was in the house before the robbery.
Youngstown Police Lt. Robin Lees of the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force joined city police after the people refused to surrender.
Officers, Lees said, did not want to force their way into the house immediately, fearing someone was armed. Police attempted to talk the individual out of the house with no success, then used tear gas to empty the dwelling.
"We set up and attempted to call them out for a while. One guy did come out, then after a while another guy came out. We shot some gas into the house, and the remaining three people inside came out," Lees said.
Robbins said Leasock was the first to emerge, followed by Davis, Calderwood and then the women.
The standoff did last a short time after the people came out. Officers were unsure whether anyone else was hiding in the house and maintained outside surveillance. A team of officers was eventually sent into the house and determined that no one else was hiding inside.
Robbins would not say if a gun was found in the house, but he said evidence of the robbery was found inside and outside the house.
Patient police
By the afternoon, the beige house was boarded and yellow evidence tape placed around it. Simeone said the house has been the site of numerous parties.
"There was a lot of patience" shown by city police and task force members resulting in no injuries to police or the suspects, the chief said.
Robbins said Davis and Calderwood were released from jail pending arraignments Monday morning in municipal court. Leasock remained in the city lockup.
Both Simeone and Robbins said Leasock faces other charges. The chief said he is a suspect in other robberies.
This is the second standoff in the Mahoning Valley this week.
Bobby Mock, 38, of Austintown, faces 13 felony charges after a standoff with police Wednesday at the Holiday Inn MetroPlex in Liberty. Brian Simione, 33, of Youngstown, alleged to be Mock's accomplice, has been charged with burglary and possession of criminal tools.
Lees said it's been fortunate that no one was injured in either standoff.
More Stories from Tue, Jul 24, 2007
- City spot to be honored for Good Humor history
- Audience vocal about Brookfield BOE moves
- Howland gets new super; taught in Kinsman, Hubbard
- Time Magazine: Altmire in political no man's land
- Men arrested in thefts from cars in Boardman
- Men arraigned in standoff
- Attention to detail pays off in school
- School board grants wage raises all around
