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Girard man accused of wielding knife

GIRARD — A man wanted for chasing another man with a knife made his first appearance in Girard Municipal Court on Wednesday following his arrest.

Marko Sowell, 18, of 439 E. Kline St., is facing a felony charge and two misdemeanors in the March 30 incident, as well as another felony for a fight at Girard High School, where he is a student, five days prior.

The March 30 incident happened about 10 p.m. at the Sunoco gas station, 307 S. State St. The police report states the 19-year-old victim was pumping gas when Sowell yelled from his vehicle and pulled up next to the victim. Sowell got out of the car, brandished the knife and chased him through the parking lot and then into the building, continuing to chase him, a police report states.

The report states the victim then went behind the counter and into an “employees only” room. Sowell kept trying to gain entry but eventually left the gas station and headed north in his vehicle. The victim was not injured and did not want to press charges, but told officers he would file a report.

A gas station employee told police he heard two men arguing in the parking lot and said he heard the victim yell, “I’ll burn your house down,” the report states. The victim, however, denied saying this to police.

Five days prior, a fight took place at Girard High School between Sowell and another student. Sowell was in the office and was shown video footage of the fight, and he recorded the fight on his cellphone and posted it to social media. His posting of the video led to the additional felony charge.

Sowell appeared in Girard Municipal Court on Wednesday morning via video conference. He remains in Trumbull County jail on $25,000 bond with house arrest. A court official said he has to post both the $25,000 bond and the $410 charge for house arrest before being released. He is facing charges of felonious assault, unauthorized use of property, aggravated trespassing and inducing panic.

He is due back in court 9 a.m. April 14.

nhawthorne@tribtoday.com

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