Details of N. Side standoff disputed

By John W. Goodwin Jr.

jgoodwin@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Kevon Williams is set to go before a judge today on charges of domestic violence and inducing panic for holding police at bay and holding hostages in his Ohio Avenue home.

Those purportedly held in the house, however, say the situation has been taken out of context.

Williams was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon by Youngstown police and members of the SWAT team after a lengthy standoff on the North Side. It started with an early morning call to police by Williams’ ex-girlfriend for domestic violence.

Within an hour of that call, police from Youngstown, Liberty, Howland and Boardman had cordoned off two blocks of Ohio Avenue in either direction from the house. A mobile-command station was set up, and officers, through a sound system, asked Williams to come out peacefully.

Police said initially five people were being held in the house, including Williams’ two children. Police also said there was word of a gun in the house, but no weapon was found in a subsequent search.

Ashawntay Heard, Williams’ current girlfriend and mother to one of the children, and Marvin Reese, a family member, were inside the home Tuesday morning.

They both tell a much different story about the course of events leading up to the standoff.

Heard said everyone in the house, including the mother of Williams’ other child who ultimately called police, were at the house relaxing and hanging out early Tuesday when Williams told the former girlfriend she would have to leave.

She said Williams told the woman she could not take their child.

Heard said the former girlfriend became angry and called police, claiming Williams was holding the child and others hostage. She said Williams at no time threatened or held anyone captive nor did he have a gun.

“He never told any of us we couldn’t leave. He just wanted her to leave to stop any trouble,” Heard said. “This really didn’t have to get this far.”

Reese said he offered to take the other woman home after Williams made her leave the house, but she refused.

“She made a false report to get her son,” he said. “This was totally unnecessary.”

Reese said Williams takes care of the child in question.

“How can you kidnap a kid who lives with you and has his own room?” he said.

Heard said the fallout from what she insists was a false report to police is enormous. Williams has been sitting in Mahoning County jail since the incident. She said the house has been ruined.

Police fired tear gas into the house to remove Williams. Heard said the house now has broken windows, and everything inside is covered in some sort of residue.

She said the house belongs to Williams’ grandmother, who is in rehabilitation at a nursing home.