ANOTHER GUN OFF THE STREETS

Elyria – Elyria Police were called to Mardi Gras just after 2 a.m. Saturday morning for a reported disturbance. The caller hung up on the Dispatcher and upon call back a subject told the Dispatcher that he was the owner and that the Police were not needed. A third call was from a parent who said her daughter called from inside of the bar stating that someone had a gun and was not allowing anyone to leave.

Elyria Police Officer Joe Figula Jr. was in the Washington Ave lot at the time of the call and responded. While he was crossing the bridge he was able to hear gunshots coming from the Depot Street area. As Figula made his way to Washington and Depot he spotted numerous people running eastbound on Depot towards East Ave. Due to heavy traffic on Depot Figula went up to Broad and headed towards East Ave in an attempt to find an Oldsmobile that he believed was fleeing the area.

As Officers approached Broad and East they spotted the Oldsmobile haulin the mail from East onto Broad Street heading west, occupied by 6 males. Officers turned around on the car and were able to stop it in the McDonalds parking lot downtown.

Performing a “felony stop” Officers ordered each of the occupants out of the vehicle and took them into custody one at a time.

Once all of the occupants were in custody Officers approached the car to perform a search. The immediately spotted a black and silver Taurus .45 cal handgun in an open glove box.

The driver of the vehicle, John T. Herring of Lorain, is currently under indictment for Trafficking in Cocaine. He was charged with Having Weapons Under Disability, Carrying a Concealed Weapon, Improper Handing of a Firearm in a Motor Vehicle, Using Weapons while Intoxicated, Speeding and Seatbelt.

Also arrested were Derrick Harris, 22 of Lorain, Isaiah Gonzalez, 20 of Lorain, Dartagnan Knowles, 22 of Lorain.

Harris was charged with Having Weapons Under Disability, Carrying a Concealed Weapon, Improper Handing of a Firearm in a Motor Vehicle and Using Weapons While Intoxicated. Harris is currently under indictment through the Lorain County Common Pleas Court for Carrying Concealed Weapon, Improper Handing of a Firearm in a Motor Vehicle, Possession of a Firearm in a Liquor Establishment and Using Weapons while Intoxicated.

Gonzalez and Knowles were both arrested on outstanding warrants through the Lorain Police Department.

Two other occupants in the vehicle were released without being charged.


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